“DOWN PENS”
“HAVE you written to thank the Froplinsons for what they sent us?” asked Egbert. “No,” said Janetta, with a note of tired defiance in her voice; “I’ve written eleven letters to-day expressing surprise and gratitude for sundry unmerited gifts, but … Continue reading
“MINISTERS OF GRACE”
Although he was scarcely yet out of his teens, the Duke of Scaw was already marked out as a personality widely differing from others of his caste and period. Not in externals; therein he conformed correctly to type. His hair … Continue reading
A BREAD AND BUTTER MISS
“Starling Chatter and Oakhill have both dropped back in the betting,” said Bertie van Tahn, throwing the morning paper across the breakfast table. “That leaves Nursery Tea practically favourite,” said Odo Finsberry. “Nursery Tea and Pipeclay are at the top … Continue reading
A DEFENSIVE DIAMOND
TREDDLEFORD sat in an easeful arm-chair in front of a slumberous fire, with a volume of verse in his hand and the comfortable consciousness that outside the club windows the rain was dripping and pattering with persistent purpose. A chill, … Continue reading
A HOLIDAY TASK
KENELM JERTON entered the dining-hall of the Golden Galleon Hotel in the full crush of the luncheon hour. Nearly every seat was occupied, and small additional tables had been brought in, where floor space permitted, to accommodate latecomers, with the … Continue reading
A HOUSEING PROBLEM
“I’m in a frightful position,” exclaimed Mrs. Duff-Chubleigh, sinking into an armchair and closing her eyes as though to shut out some distressing vision. “Really? What has happened?” asked Mrs. Pallitson, preparing herself to hear some kitchen tragedy. “The more … Continue reading
A MATTER OF SENTIMENT
It was the eve of the great race, and scarcely a member of Lady Susan’s house-party had as yet a single bet on. It was one of those unsatisfactory years when one horse held a commanding market position, not by … Continue reading
A SACRIFICE TO NECESSITY
Alicia Pevenly sat on a garden seat in the rose-walk at Chopehanger, enjoying the valedictory mildness of a warm October morning, and experiencing the atmosphere of mental complacency that descends on a woman who has breakfasted well, is picturesquely dressed, … Continue reading
A SHOT IN THE DARK
Philip Sletherby settled himself down in an almost empty railway carriage, with the pleasant consciousness of being embarked on an agreeable and profitable pilgrimage. He was bound for Brill Manor, the country residence of his newly achieved acquaintance, Mrs. Saltpen-Jago. … Continue reading
A TOUCH OF REALISM
“I HOPE you’ve come full of suggestions for Christmas,” said Lady Blonze to her latest arrived guest; “the old-fashioned Christmas and the up-to-date Christmas are both so played out. I want to have something really original this year.” “I was … Continue reading
A YOUNG TURKISH CATASTROPHE – IN TWO SCENES
The Minister for Fine Arts (to whose Department had been lately added the new sub-section of Electoral Engineering) paid a business visit to the Grand Vizier. According to Eastern etiquette they discoursed for a while on indifferent subjects. The minister … Continue reading
ADRIAN
A CHAPTER IN ACCLIMATIZATION His baptismal register spoke of him pessimistically as John Henry, but he had left that behind with the other maladies of infancy, and his friends knew him under the front-name of Adrian. His mother lived in … Continue reading
ALICE AND THE LIBERAL PARTY
Quite a number of them were going past; and the noise was considerable, but they were marching in sixes and sevens and didn’t seem to be guided by any fixed word of command, so that the effect was not so … Continue reading
ALICE ANYWHERE BUT IN DOWNING STREET
“I don’t know what business you have here” the Red Queen was saying, “if you don’t belong to the Cabinet; of course,” she added more kindly, “you may be one of the outer ring. There are so many of them, … Continue reading
ALICE AT LAMBETH
The atmosphere was as noticeable as the noise when Alice got in, and seemed to be heavily charged with pepper. There was a faint whiff of burning incense, and some candles that had just been put out were smouldering unpleasantly. … Continue reading
ALICE AT ST. STEPHEN’S
“It’s very provoking,” said Alice to herself; she had been trying for the previous quarter of an hour to attract the attention of a large and very solemn caterpillar that was perched on the top of a big mushroom with … Continue reading
ALICE GOES TO CHESTERFIELD
Alice noticed a good deal of excitement going on among the Looking-Glass creatures : some of them were hurrying off expectantly in one direction, as fast as their legs would carry them, while others were trying to look as if … Continue reading
ALICE HAS TEA AT THE HOTEL CECIL
The March Hare and the Dormouse and the Hatter were seated at a very neglected-looking tea-table; they were evidently in agonised consideration of something—even the Dormouse, which was asleep, had a note of interrogation in its tail. “No room!” they … Continue reading
ALICE IN A FOG
“The Duke and Duchess!” said the White Rabbit nervously, as it went scurrying past; “they may be here at any moment, and I haven’t got it yet.” “Hasn’t got what?” wondered Alice. “A rhyme for Cornwall,” said the Rabbit, as … Continue reading
ALICE IN DIFFICULTIES
“How are you getting on?” asked the Cheshire Cat. “Tm not,” said Alice. Which was certainly the truth. It was the most provoking and bewildering game of croquet she had ever played in. The other side did not seem to … Continue reading
ALICE IN DOWNING STREET
The Cat had been slowly vanishing during the last few minutes, till nothing remained of it but an eye. At the last remark it gave a wink at Alice and completed its eclipse. When Alice turned round she found that … Continue reading
ALICE IN PALL MALL
“The great art in falling off a horse,” said the White Knight, “is to have another handy to fall on to.” “But wouldn’t that be rather difficult to arrange?” asked Alice. “Difficult, of course,” replied the Knight, “but in my … Continue reading
ALICE LUNCHES AT WESTMINSTER
“I THINK I would rather not hear it just now.” said Alice politely. “It is expressly intended for publication,” said Humpty Dumpty; “1 don’t suppose there’ll be a paper to-morrow that won’t be talking about it.” “In that case I … Continue reading
BERTIE’S CHRISTMAS EVE
It was Christmas Eve, and the family circle of Luke Steffink, Esq., was aglow with the amiability and random mirth which the occasion demanded. A long and lavish dinner had been partaken of, waits had been round and sung carols; … Continue reading
CANOSSA
Demosthenes Platterbaff, the eminent Unrest Inducer, stood on his trial for a serious offence, and the eyes of the political world were focussed on the jury. The offence, it should be stated, was serious for the Government rather than for … Continue reading
CLOVIS ON PARENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES
MARION EGGELBY sat talking to Clovis on the only subject that she ever willingly talked about – her offspring and their varied perfections and accomplishments. Clovis was not in what could be called a receptive mood; the younger generation of … Continue reading
CLOVIS ON THE ALLEGED ROMANCE OF BUSINESS
“It is the fashion nowadays,” said Clovis, “to talk about the romance of Business. There isn’t such a thing. The romance has all been the other way, with the idle apprentice, the truant, the run-away, the individual who couldn’t be … Continue reading
COUSIN TERESA
BASSET HARROWCLUFF returned to the home of his fathers, after an absence of four years, distinctly well pleased with himself. He was only thirty-one, but he had put in some useful service in an out-of-the-way, though not unimportant, corner of … Continue reading
CROSS CURRENTS
Vanessa Pennington had a husband who was poor, with few extenuating circumstances, and an admirer who, though comfortably rich, was cumbered with a sense of honour. His wealth made him welcome in Vanessa’s eyes, but his code of what was … Continue reading
DUSK
NORMAN GORTSBY sat on a bench in the Park, with his back to a strip of bush-planted sward, fenced by the park railings, and the Row fronting him across a wide stretch of carriage drive. Hyde Park Corner, with its … Continue reading
ESMÉ
“All hunting stories are the same,” said Clovis; “just as all Turf stories are the same, and all–” “My hunting story isn’t a bit like any you’ve ever heard,” said the Baroness. “It happened quite a while ago, when I … Continue reading
EXCEPTING MRS. PENTHERBY
It was Reggie Bruttle’s own idea for converting what had threatened to be an albino elephant into a beast of burden that should help him along the stony road of his finances. “The Limes,” which had come to him by … Continue reading
FATE
Rex Dillot was nearly twenty-four, almost good-looking and quite penniless. His mother was supposed to make him some sort of an allowance out of what her creditors allowed her, and Rex occasionally strayed into the ranks of those who earn … Continue reading
FILBOID STUDGE, THE STORY OF A MOUSE THAT HELPED
“I want to marry your daughter,” said Mark Spayley with faltering eagerness. “I am only an artist with an income of two hundred a year, and she is the daughter of an enormously wealthy man, so I suppose you will … Continue reading
FOR THE DURATION OF THE WAR
The Rev. Wilfrid Gaspilton, in one of those clerical migrations inconsequent-seeming to the lay mind, had removed from the moderately fashionable parish of St. Luke’s, Kensingate, to the immoderately rural parish of St. Chuddocks, somewhere in Yondershire. There were doubtless … Continue reading
FOREWARNED
Alethia Debchance sat in a corner of an otherwise empty railway carriage, more or less at ease as regarded body, but in some trepidation as to mind. She had embarked on a social adventure of no little magnitude as compared … Continue reading
FUR
“YOU look worried, dear,” said Eleanor. “I am worried,” admitted Suzanne; “not worried exactly, but anxious. You see, my birthday happens next week – ” “You lucky person,” interrupted Eleanor; “my birthday doesn’t come till the end of March.” “Well, … Continue reading
GABRIEL-ERNEST
“There is a wild beast in your woods,” said the artist Cunningham, as he was being driven to the station. It was the only remark he had made during the drive, but as Van Cheele had talked incessantly his companion’s … Continue reading
HERMANN THE IRASCIBLE – A STORY OF THE GREAT WEEP
It was in the second decade of the twentieth century, after the Great Plague had devastated England, that Hermann the Irascible, nicknamed also the Wise, sat on the British throne. The Mortal Sickness had swept away the entire Royal Family, … Continue reading
HYACINTH
“The new fashion of introducing the candidate’s children into an election contest is a pretty one,” said Mrs. Panstreppon; “it takes away something from the acerbity of party warfare, and it makes an interesting experience for children to look back … Continue reading
INTRODUCTION to The Westminster Alice
“Alice,” Child with dreaming eyes, Noting things that come to pass Turvey-wise in Wonderland Backwards through a Looking-Glass. Figures flit across thy dream. Muddle through and flicker out Some in cocksure blessedness, Some in Philosophic Doubt. Some in brackets, some … Continue reading
JUDKIN OF THE PARCELS
A figure in an indefinite tweed suit, carrying brown-paper parcels. That is what we met suddenly, at the bend of a muddy Dorsetshire lane, and the roan mare stared and obviously thought of a curtsey. The mare is road-shy, with … Continue reading
LAURA
“YOU are not really dying, are you?” asked Amanda. “I have the doctor’s permission to live till Tuesday,” said Laura. “But to-day is Saturday; this is serious!” gasped Amanda. “I don’t know about it being serious; it is certainly Saturday,” … Continue reading
LOUIS
“It would be jolly to spend Easter in Vienna this year,” said Strudwarden, “and look up some of my old friends there. It’s about the jolliest place I know of to be at for Easter–” “I thought we had made … Continue reading
LOUISE
“The tea will be quite cold, you’d better ring for some more,” said the Dowager Lady Beanford. Susan Lady Beanford was a vigorous old woman who had coquetted with imaginary ill-health for the greater part of a lifetime; Clovis Sangrail … Continue reading
MARK
Augustus Mellowkent was a novelist with a future; that is to say, a limited but increasing number of people read his books, and there seemed good reason to suppose that if he steadily continued to turn out novels year by … Continue reading
MORLVERA
The Olympic Toy Emporium occupied a conspicuous frontage in an important West End street. It was happily named Toy Emporium, because one would never have dreamed of according it the familiar and yet pulse-quickening name of toyshop. There was an … Continue reading
MRS. PACKLETIDE’S TIGER
It was Mrs. Packletide’s pleasure and intention that she should shoot a tiger. Not that the lust to kill had suddenly descended on her, or that she felt that she would leave India safer and more wholesome than she had … Continue reading
ON APPROVAL
OF all the genuine Bohemians who strayed from time to time into the would-be Bohemian circle of the Restaurant Nuremberg, Owl Street, Soho, none was more interesting and more elusive than Gebhard Knopfschrank. He had no friends, and though he … Continue reading
QUAIL SEED
“The outlook is not encouraging for us smaller businesses,” said Mr. Scarrick to the artist and his sister, who had taken rooms over his suburban grocery store. “These big concerns are offering all sorts of attractions to the shopping public … Continue reading