A Prefect’s Uncle · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for A Prefect’s Uncle by P. G. Wodehouse.
Chapter 1
I: Term Begins
The chapter opens on the last evening of the summer holidays at Beckford College, with Marriott returning to Leicester's House. He meets Gethryn, who has just had a conversation with the Headmaster about the need to improve the House's discipline and reputation. They discuss the upcoming term, the arrival of a new boy named P. V. Wilson, and the challenges ahead. The chapter introduces the state of Leicester's House, which has been poorly managed under the previous head, Reynolds, and sets the stage for Gethryn's efforts to reform it.
Chapter 2
II: Introduces an Unusual Uncle
The first day of term at Beckford begins with a half holiday. Cricket nets are set up, and Norris, Gosling, Gethryn, and the professional practice. Marriott befriends young Wilson, offering him a fagging role. Gethryn leaves the nets to meet his uncle at the station, only to discover the uncle is a small, top-hatted boy named Farnie.
Chapter 3
III: The Uncle Makes Himself at Home
Gethryn discovers that the new boy, Farnie, is actually his uncle, four years his junior. Farnie's confident and cheeky demeanor unsettles Gethryn, who tries to advise him about school life, including warnings about Monk. Farnie reveals he has brought a large sum of money, obtained by tricking his father, and quickly becomes popular among the younger boys.
Chapter 4
IV: Pringle Makes a Sporting Offer
Farnie and Wilson quickly settle into Beckford life, with Farnie gaining popularity through his skill at organizing elaborate pranks, such as flooding the form-room to get back at a substitute master. Meanwhile, Pringle, a supremely self-assured and talented cricketer, basks in the glory of a recent century. He finds his study companion Lorimer struggling with a compulsory poem for the Rajah of Seltzerpore prize, and offers to write it for him in exchange for an introduction to Lorimer's sister, Mabel.
Chapter 5
V: Farnie Gets Into Trouble
Farnie, despite warnings from his nephew Gethryn, forms a friendship with the disreputable Monk and Danvers. He cleverly avoids lending them money when they try to exploit him, but later borrows from Monk at usurious terms to fund his illicit activities. Farnie skips school obligations by paying others to answer roll-call for him, leading to risky behavior.
Chapter 6
VI: —and Stays There
Farnie, desperate to repay a debt to Monk, goes to Gethryn's study to ask for a loan but finds it empty. While exploring, he discovers a cashbox containing money and, after being interrupted by Wilson, decides to steal the entire contents. He leaves notes for Gethryn and Monk, then flees the school on his bicycle.
Chapter 7
VII: The Bishop Goes for a Ride
During the M.C.C. match, Gethryn discovers that his uncle Farnie has absconded with money, leaving a note. Determined to retrieve him before the scandal is discovered, Gethryn leaves the match and rides his bicycle to Anfield, hoping to catch Farnie and return before his absence is noticed.
Chapter 8
VIII: The M.C.C. Match
The chapter details the progress of the M.C.C. match against Beckford. After a promising start with Pringle and Marriott, a batting collapse occurs. Pringle scores 81, but Gethryn is absent. The School takes the field without him, and despite early bowling success by Gosling, the M.C.C. fights back. Norris misses a catch, blaming Gethryn's absence, and the match remains in the balance.
Chapter 9
IX: The Bishop Finishes His Ride
Gethryn, after a difficult journey involving wrong directions and a punctured tyre, arrives at Anfield station only to find his uncle's train has already left. He discovers Farnie at the station, forces him to return to Beckford, and recovers part of the stolen money. Gethryn learns that Farnie gave some of the money to Monk under threat, and he resolves to protect Farnie from expulsion, even though it means facing severe consequences for abandoning the M.C.C. match.
Chapter 10
In Which a Case Is Fully Discussed
Gethryn faces intense scrutiny and criticism from peers and masters after abandoning the M.C.C. match without explanation. Reece is the only one who does not press him. Mr. Jephson confronts him with sarcasm, then reports to Mr. Robertson, who argues that Gethryn broke no school rule. Norris, as captain, threatens to drop him from the team. Pringle defends Gethryn to Lorimer, but the school opinion is largely against him.
Chapter 11
Poetry and Stump-Cricket
Pringle enjoys the Old Beckfordians' match, scoring a half-century and celebrating with strawberries and cream. During a visiting Sunday at Colonel Ashby's, he learns of a published poem on the Death of Dido, which he plans to adapt for Lorimer's poetry prize entry. After a day of stump-cricket and billiards, he copies the poem and later passes it off as his own work to Lorimer.
Chapter 12
XII: “We, the Undersigned—”
The Bishop intervenes to stop Monk and Danvers from bullying Wilson in the senior day-room, leading to a confrontation that humiliates Monk. Later, Monk organizes a mass meeting where the Mob votes to strike against field-outs and signs a round-robin demanding Gethryn's resignation as House captain. A deputation approaches Reece to join their cause.
Chapter 13
Leicester's House Team Goes Into a Second Edition
Monk, Danvers, and Waterford present a round-robin to Reece demanding Gethryn's resignation as House cricket captain due to his abandonment of the M.C.C. match. Reece refuses to sign and warns them Gethryn will cut them from the team. Reece informs Gethryn and Marriott, who decide to replace the signatories with junior players like Wilson, Lee, Adams, and others. Gethryn posts the new team list, and Monk and Danvers react with dismay.
Chapter 14
XIV: Norris Takes a Short Holiday
Norris, confident in his House's cricket team, accepts an invitation from his wealthy uncle to play in a village match instead of attending the crucial House match against Leicester's. Despite Baker's protests, Norris obtains leave from Mr. Jephson by evading the true reason. He enjoys a triumphant game, scoring 78 not out, and returns to find that Leicester's, led by Gethryn's bowling (8 for 9), have crushed his team, dismissing them for 21 and 48 runs.
Chapter 15
Versus Charchester (At Charchester)
Norris, reeling from the loss of Gosling to injury, reluctantly reinstates Gethryn into the First Eleven for the crucial match against Charchester. Despite the team's intense practice, Gethryn struggles against a left-handed batsman on a hard wicket, and Charchester declares at 241 for 2. Beckford plays for a draw, ending at 103 for 5. After the defeat, Mr. Mortimer Wells, a visiting cynic, criticizes the school's poetry prize entries during dinner with the Headmaster and Mr. Lawrie.
Chapter 16
A Disputed Authorship
Lorimer is summoned by the Headmaster, who questions him about a book called 'The Dark Horse'. Lorimer is bewildered, but later learns from Pringle that Pringle had plagiarized a poem from that book for the prize poem competition. When the Headmaster discovers the truth, both Lorimer and Pringle confess, and they are punished with extra lessons on the remaining Saturdays of term, which prevents them from playing in the final House match.
Chapter 17
XVII: The Winter Term
The winter term begins with Gethryn feeling optimistic about his position as head of Leicester's House. He receives a letter from Farnie, who has left for a school in France and returned the four pounds he owed. Gethryn finally reveals to Marriott and Wilson the truth about his absence during the M.C.C. match, explaining that he left to find Farnie. Marriott urges Gethryn to also tell Norris to resolve the tension affecting their football combination, but Gethryn is reluctant. The chapter ends with the two discussing the need to address the issue for the sake of the team.
Chapter 18
XVIII: The Bishop Scores
Wilson decides to reveal the truth about Farnie and the bicycle ride to Norris, hoping to clear Gethryn's name. Norris listens but tells Wilson not to inform Gethryn, hinting at future reconciliation. The chapter then shifts to a tense football match between Beckford and the Nomads. After a hard-fought game, Norris unexpectedly passes the ball to Gethryn, allowing him to score the winning try. After the match, Norris invites Gethryn to tea, signaling a restored friendship. Gethryn recounts his M.C.C. match adventure, and the chapter ends with Reece's anecdote.
