← All chapters

Piccadilly Jim · Chapter

III: Family Jars explained

Mrs.

What happens

Mrs. Pett visits Mrs. Crocker with her husband Peter and son Ogden, leading to a tense reunion. Mrs. Crocker mistakes her brother-in-law Bingley Crocker for the butler, a role he plays to avoid her scorn. Bingley bonds with Mr. Pett over baseball, while Mrs. Pett envies the apparent butler's quality. The chapter ends with Mrs. Crocker planning a drive and James Crocker coming downstairs.

Themes in this chapter

  • Family Dynamics and Obligation

    The strained visit between the Pett and Crocker families highlights unresolved familial tensions and obligations.

  • Comedy of Manners and Satire

    Mrs. Crocker's snobbishness and Bingley's mistaken identity as a butler satirize social pretensions and class distinctions.

Characters to notice

  • Mrs. Pett

    Visits Mrs. Crocker with her family, maintaining a stiff and dignified demeanor.

  • Mrs. Bingley Crocker

    Receives the Pett family with cool indifference, mistakes her husband for the butler.

  • Bingley Crocker

    Mistaken for the butler by his sister-in-law, plays the role and bonds with Mr. Pett over baseball.

  • Mr. Peter Pett

    Accompanies his wife, feels intimidated by Mrs. Crocker, but enjoys a baseball conversation with the 'butler'.

  • Ogden Ford

    Brought along by his mother, fidgets with a valuable vase and ignores Mrs. Crocker's reprimands.

  • Jimmy Crocker

    Mentioned as still in bed; comes downstairs at the end of the chapter.

Key passages

  • “Know him? Why, I suppose, after Lord Percy Whipple, he is James’ most intimate friend!”

    Mrs. Crocker claims Lord Wisbeach is James's closest friend after Lord Percy Whipple.

    Mrs. Crocker defends Lord Wisbeach's reputation to Mrs. Pett.

  • “Let ’em slip!”

    Mr. Pett encourages Bingley to freely use American baseball slang.

    Mr. Pett appreciates Bingley's baseball knowledge despite his butler disguise.

  • “I will inform Mrs. Crocker that you are here, madam.”

    Bingley, pretending to be the butler, announces Mrs. Pett's arrival.

    Bingley maintains his mistaken identity to avoid Mrs. Crocker's anger.

Read this chapter freeBook page