Love Among the Chickens · Chapter
Asking Papa explained
Jeremy Garnet, accompanied by the irrepressible Ukridge, confronts Professor Derrick during his morning swim to ask for his consent to marry Phyllis.
What happens
Jeremy Garnet, accompanied by the irrepressible Ukridge, confronts Professor Derrick during his morning swim to ask for his consent to marry Phyllis. Garnet attempts to explain the staged rescue, but the professor, furious and struggling in the water, refuses to listen and rejects him outright.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Courtship
Garnet's determined but ill-fated attempt to win Professor Derrick's approval for his marriage to Phyllis.
Comedy of Misadventure
The absurdity of conducting a serious romantic negotiation while swimming, punctuated by Ukridge's antics and the professor's involuntary submersions.
Optimism vs. Reality
Garnet's hopeful belief that a waterborne apology will win over the professor clashes with the professor's unyielding anger.
Characters to notice
- Jeremy Garnet
Narrator and protagonist, who awkwardly proposes to Professor Derrick while swimming, attempting to explain the staged rescue.
- Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge
Garnet's boisterous friend, who accompanies him to the swim and offers unsolicited commentary and encouragement.
- Professor Derrick
Phyllis's father, who is furious about the staged rescue and refuses Garnet's request for his daughter's hand.
- Phyllis Derrick
Garnet's beloved, mentioned as the reason for the confrontation; she has agreed to marry him only with her father's consent.
Key passages
“I love your daughter, Phyllis, Mr. Derrick. She loves me. In fact, we are engaged.”
Garnet bluntly announces his engagement to Phyllis while treading water.
Key moment of confrontation; Garnet states his case directly despite the awkward setting.
“You may not! You may consider no such thing. My objections were never more absolute.”
Professor Derrick firmly rejects Garnet's request for consent.
The professor's ultimatum, delivered while hopping on a pebble, underscores his refusal.
“Laddie, do you know what I think? ... You haven't clicked, old horse!”
Ukridge concludes that Garnet's attempt to win over the professor has failed.
Ukridge's characteristic understatement of the disastrous outcome.