Inevitably, considering the number of stories Trevor has written, character types are repeated. Still, these characters are never stereotypes; Trevor says he writes out of curiosity to discover what his characters will do. Readers, too, must be alert for surprises.

"A Day" focuses on the interior life of one character. Mrs. Lethwes, an uppermiddle-class London housewife, appears quite ordinary at first, but as the day goes on it is clear that she is addicted to alcohol.

The reader tends to sympathize as she reveals the small tragedies of her life. She blames herself for her childlessness and has rejected her husband's wish to adopt a child.

As layers of the past are revealed, we learn that on a vacation trip she intercepted a letter from her husband's lover, a musician named Elspeth. Both husband and wife know of this affair, but will not discuss it.

Mrs. Lethwes carries...