+ − Survey 45:288 N 20 ’20 270w The Times [London] Lit Sup p376 Je 17 ’20 670w
COXON, MURIEL (HINE) (MRS SYDNEY COXON). Breathless moment. *$2 (2½c) Lane
20–13346
Sabine Fane, brought up in luxury, was left destitute after her father’s death. Nothing daunted, she accepts a position as housekeeper and eventually falls in love with her mistress’ nephew. But Mark is already married to a worthless woman and just before he leaves for the front, Sabine decides on a desperate step. She will have her breathless moment before it is too late. During the war Mark’s wife dies and he is not only crippled but becomes a victim of shell shock. He has completely forgotten the episode with Sabine, but such is her charm that he falls in love anew on seeing her. The illegitimate child arouses his moral indignation and once more he turns from her. An operation on an old scalp wound restores his mental balance and all difficulties are cleared up except a lurking regret on both sides for what has happened before the war.
“In ‘The breathless moment’ Miss Muriel Hine is perhaps at her best.”
+ Ath p619 N 5 ’20 100w
“A sound piece of work, interesting, well balanced, with characters whose deeds and personalities are alike plausible, and a story which develops clearly and logically, it is a better book than any one of hers which we have previously read.”
+ N Y Times p26 Ag 1 ’20 700w
“The story is readable but unconventional.”