Comus Bassington is the irresponsible and ungrateful focus of his corner of British society. Circa 1900, what can be done with him--besides ship him to the Colonies, where he can no longer embarrass his mother or break the hearts of girls who ought to marry sensibly? Saki's social chaffing is gentle, revealing kernels of sympathy for all his superficial and misguided characters. As narrator, Joyce gives the right touch of class and has, besides, a gift for sketching a complete vocal characterization in a single sentence. This period piece is slow-paced, almost a ramble at times. But its subtle delights should please lovers of British social satirists from Austen to Wodehouse. S.P. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine