ARACHNE—Eden Phillpotts—Macmillan ($2.25). Slangy conversation betweenclassic Greeks suggests Erskine; muses conversant with the Charlestonrecall various recent fantasies; and the wilful woman who (almost) cameto woeful end has been heard of before. She would have her profession,and she did excel at it, so the gods had to interfere and deposit herin the domesticating arms of her lover, soon husband and five timesfather. Bromide, he had said “No woman ever made anything morebeautiful than a complete and perfect baby,” but Arachne swore shepreferred making the complete and perfect web of brilliant silks.Athene promised to teach her, and repented when the pupil surpassed herinstructress in talent and conception—dangerous impertinence. Herprosaic lover defined romance as “uncomfortable and dangerous thingshappening to someone else,” but Arachne’s malapert masterpiece was anevertheless romantic tapestry of gods and their foibles. To Athene’svengeful annoyance, a jury of immortals promptly, indifferently, judgedit superior to the goddess’s weaving, and spent the hour allotted themfor solemn decision in Babbitt discussion of the relative merits ofliquors.