THE BLESSING

An expert entertainment which applies a gentle goad of social satire, proceeds wit and elegance through the domestic drama of Charles-Edouard de Valhubert and his tish bride, Grace, and also airs some antipodal national attitudes as the flexible ity of the French meets a cold rebuff across the Channel. Married precipitously and uptly during the war, Grace is not to see Charles-Edouard for seven years, and during time bears and rears "the blessing", Sigi. With her husband's return, Grace and and his Nanny are taken first to the provinces, then to Paris, where Nanny eyes the and the plumbing with indignant disapproval, while Grace feels ill-equipped and ill ? in the salons of haute couture and high society. First dubious, then unable to rlook some prima facie evidence of Charles-Edouradle infidelities, Grace returns to England- and Sigi divides his time between them. Escaping from the nursery for the first , Sigi is indulged by prospecting, prospective stepmothers, is thoroughly spoiled, is determined to keep his parents apart and attentive to him, while Grace spends several miserable months at home. But Sigi's stratagems are discovered, and Grace softens, her own sake, for Sigi's, and for Charles-Edouard ("forced to go to bed at the most convenient times" with other wives)... A profitable pleasure to sell- which the Book the Month selection will stimulate.