Indiscretions of Archie · Chapter
The Growing Boy explained
Archie prepares for a quiet dinner with Lucille, but she is called away to visit Jane Murchison.
What happens
Archie prepares for a quiet dinner with Lucille, but she is called away to visit Jane Murchison. While dining alone, he encounters a long, hungry boy and invites him to share the meal. The next day, Archie learns from tobacconist Mr. Blake that his pie-eating champion has withdrawn due to a lecture on rational eating given by the boy's mother. Archie recruits the boy to take the champion's place in the contest.
Themes in this chapter
Comedy of Errors and Misunderstandings
Archie's dinner plans are disrupted by Lucille's sudden departure, and the boy's mother's lecture inadvertently causes the pie-eating champion to withdraw, leading to a humorous chain of events.
Work vs. Idleness
Archie's idle dinner is contrasted with the boy's hunger and the serious business of the pie-eating contest, highlighting different attitudes toward labor and leisure.
Characters to notice
- Archie Moffam
Archie dines alone after Lucille leaves to visit Jane Murchison, invites a hungry boy to share his meal, and later recruits the boy for a pie-eating contest.
- Lucille Brewster Moffam
Lucille is called away to dine with Jane Murchison, leaving Archie to eat alone.
- Jane Murchison
Jane is the friend Lucille visits; she is described as exigent and is sailing for England the next morning.
- Blake
Mr. Blake, the tobacconist, is distressed because his pie-eating champion has withdrawn after attending a lecture on rational eating.
- Pongo
The long, hungry boy who shares Archie's meal and is recruited for the pie-eating contest; he is the son of the lecturer on rational eating.
Key passages
“Jane Murchison," said Archie, "is a bally nuisance."”
Archie complains that Jane Murchison is a bother.
Archie expresses frustration that Lucille's friend is interrupting their dinner plans.
“That smells good!" said the long boy. He inhaled deeply. "Yes, sir," he continued, as one whose mind is definitely made up, "that smells good!"”
The boy repeatedly declares that the food smells wonderful, emphasizing his hunger.
The boy's persistent admiration of the meal's aroma leads to Archie inviting him to eat.
“Religion's more like what 'e's got."”
Mr. Blake suggests that the champion's new dietary beliefs are like a religious conversion.
Mr. Blake explains that the champion quit after attending a lecture on rational eating, which he compares to a religious experience.