Leave It to Psmith · Chapter
III: Eve Borrows an Umbrella explained
Eve Halliday visits her friend Miss Clarkson at the Ada Clarkson International Employment Bureau, discussing the troubles of their mutual friend Cynthia and reminiscing about their own hard lives.
What happens
Eve Halliday visits her friend Miss Clarkson at the Ada Clarkson International Employment Bureau, discussing the troubles of their mutual friend Cynthia and reminiscing about their own hard lives. After leaving, she is caught in a rain shower and takes refuge under the awning of Thorpe & Briscoe. Psmith, observing her from the Drones Club, borrows an umbrella belonging to the Honourable Mr. Walderwick and gallantly offers it to Eve, who accepts it with amusement.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Wealth
Eve's background of poverty contrasts with her appearance of wealth, and Psmith's confusion highlights class assumptions.
Comedy of Errors and Miscommunication
Psmith's misinterpretation of Eve's financial status and his chivalrous but unorthodox umbrella loan create a humorous situation.
Deception and Manipulation
Psmith borrows another member's umbrella without permission, a small act of deception for a noble cause.
Characters to notice
- Eve Halliday
Visits Miss Clarkson, discusses Cynthia's troubles and her own childhood poverty, then accepts an umbrella from a mysterious young man.
- Miss Clarkson
Eve's friend who runs the employment bureau; she has no job openings for Eve and shares news about Cynthia.
- Psmith
Observes Eve from the Drones Club, borrows an umbrella from the Honourable Mr. Walderwick, and gallantly offers it to her.
- Cynthia
Mentioned as a friend in distress, deserted by her husband and staying in Brighton.
- Phyllis Jackson
Mentioned as a friend who is hard up despite her husband's devotion.
- Comrade Walderwick
Owner of the umbrella borrowed by Psmith.
Key passages
“I’ve been used to being absolutely broke all my life. Poor dear father always seemed to be writing an article against time, with creditors scratching earnestly at the door.”
Eve explains that she has always been poor, recalling how her father wrote articles under pressure from creditors.
Eve shares her childhood experience of poverty with Miss Clarkson.
“He said nothing further, but, taking her fingers, clasped them round the handle of the umbrella, which he had obligingly opened, and then with a courteous bow proceeded to dash with long strides across the road, disappearing through the doorway of a gloomy building”
Without a word, Psmith places the open umbrella in Eve's hand, bows, and quickly crosses the street into a club.
Psmith's silent and gallant gesture of lending an umbrella to Eve.