Mr. Mulliner Stories · Chapter
Honeysuckle Cottage explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Mulliner tells the story of his distant cousin James Rodman, a writer of sensational mystery stories, who inherits Honeysuckle Cottage and five thousand pounds from his aunt, the sentimental novelist Leila J. Pinckney, under the condition that he live there six months a year. James soon finds the cottage exerts a strange, romantic influence, forcing him into a plot straight out of his aunt's novels when a sweet, pretty girl named Rose Maynard is knocked down by a car at his door. Despite his resistance, James begins to fall under the spell of the cottage, even finding himself kissing her dog and plucking flowers for her. He calls in his literary agent, Mr. Andrew McKinnon, hoping his rugged common sense will break the spell, but McKinnon is also affected and advises James to add a love interest to his story.
Themes in this chapter
Transformation and Self-Improvement
James Rodman is transformed against his will by the sentimental atmosphere of Honeysuckle Cottage, changing from a hardened mystery writer into a romantic figure.
Appearance vs. Reality
The cottage appears to be a peaceful country home but is actually a haunted place exerting a malign influence; James's gruff exterior hides his growing romantic feelings.
Absurdity of Modern Life
The situation is absurd: a detective story writer is forced into a sentimental romance plot by a haunted cottage, and even his practical literary agent succumbs to the same influence.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Mulliner
Narrates the story of his distant cousin James Rodman and the haunted Honeysuckle Cottage.
- James Rodman
A writer of mystery stories who inherits Honeysuckle Cottage and struggles against its sentimental influence.
- Rose Maynard
A sweet, pretty girl who is knocked down by a car at James's door and becomes a guest at the cottage.
- Andrew McKinnon
James's literary agent, invited to the cottage to help break the romantic spell, but he too succumbs to it.
- Leila Pinckney
James's deceased aunt, a prolific writer of sentimental novels whose influence haunts the cottage.
- Dr. Brady
The local doctor called to attend to Rose Maynard after the accident.
Key passages
“Do you believe in ghosts?”
Mr. Mulliner asks if the narrator believes in ghosts.
Opens the story and sets up the supernatural theme.
“I am not talking about fiction.”
Mr. Mulliner clarifies he is discussing real haunted houses, not stories.
Emphasizes the reality of the haunting in the tale.
“They are pure apple sauce”
James dismisses his aunt's novels as nonsense.
Shows James's contempt for sentimental fiction.
“I found myself kissing her dog!”
James admits to kissing Rose's dog, an act he finds repulsive.
Illustrates the cottage's influence on James's behavior.
“I've been thinking over that suggestion of yours of putting a love interest into The Secret Nine. I think you're wise.”
McKinnon, now under the cottage's spell, advises James to add romance to his story.
Shows that even the practical agent has succumbed to the sentimental atmosphere.
