Love Among the Chickens · Chapter
XIV: A Council of War explained
Ukridge laments the financial troubles of the chicken farm, with tradesmen dunning him and London stores like Harrod's and Whiteley's growing impatient for egg deliveries.
What happens
Ukridge laments the financial troubles of the chicken farm, with tradesmen dunning him and London stores like Harrod's and Whiteley's growing impatient for egg deliveries. Garnet reveals his own limited finances due to a wealthy uncle's marriage stipulation. Ukridge blames the faulty incubator and Mrs. Beale's egg consumption, then devises a plan to blame Harrod's for the incubator's failure. Garnet plays golf, advancing in a tournament, and meets the professor and Phyllis afterward.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Financial Struggle
Ukridge's debts to tradesmen and London stores highlight the precarious finances of the farm and the social pressures of credit.
Comedy of Misadventure
Ukridge's absurd plan to blame Harrod's for the faulty incubator and his complaints about Mrs. Beale's egg consumption add humorous misadventure.
Optimism vs. Reality
Ukridge swings from gloom to grand plans of egg surpluses, contrasting his optimism with the farm's dire financial reality.
Characters to notice
- Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge
Fretting over debts and the incubator's failure, then plotting to blame Harrod's.
- Jeremy Garnet
Reveals his financial constraints and plays a golf match, advancing to the semifinal.
- Mrs. Stanley Ukridge
Supportively agrees with Ukridge and writes apologetic letters to creditors.
- Phyllis Derrick
Appears briefly outside the clubhouse, waiting for her father after his golf match.
- Professor Derrick
Wins his golf match and reaches the semifinal, greeted by Garnet.
- Mrs. Beale
Mentioned as consuming many eggs for cooking, including omelettes.
Key passages
“The fact is, if things go on as they are now, my lad, we shall be in the cart.”
Ukridge warns Garnet that the farm is heading for disaster if the current trend continues.
Ukridge opens the council of war with a dire assessment.
“I had a wealthy uncle. Uncles are notoriously careless of the comfort of their nephews. Mine was no exception.”
Garnet explains that his rich uncle withholds his allowance until he marries, leaving him with limited funds.
Garnet reveals his personal financial constraints.
“Tell 'em that we'd have sent them their confounded eggs long ago, if only their rotten, twopenny-ha'penny incubator had worked with any approach to decency.”
Ukridge instructs Millie to blame Harrod's for the egg shortage due to the faulty incubator.
Ukridge's counter-stroke against Harrod's.