# Harrison's Slight Error explained — School Stories

> Chapter companion for School Stories by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Harrison loses his reserved train seat to a new boy, then attempts revenge by tricking the newcomer into dismantling the head of house's study, only to discover the boy is Venables' brother.

## Themes in this chapter

### Trickery and Cunning

Harrison's elaborate plan to trick the new boy into dismantling Venables' study.

### Social Hierarchy and Initiation

The new boy's introduction to the school and Harrison's attempt to assert dominance.

### Friendship and Loyalty

Mace's failure to keep a seat and the betrayal by Harrison's friends on the train.

## Character check-ins

### P. St. H. Harrison

Protagonist who loses his train seat and schemes revenge.

### Richard Venables

Head of Merevale's House; his study is targeted by Harrison's prank.

### J. S. M. Babington

Teases Harrison in the train carriage.

### Barrett

Joins in mocking Harrison on the train.

### Grey

Another passenger who taunts Harrison.

### Mace

Friend who failed to keep a seat for Harrison.

### Tony Graham

Owner of the study Harrison claims as his own.

### The Babe

Mentioned as part of the school community.

## Key lines

> The one o’clock down express was just on the point of starting.

The 1:00 PM express train was about to depart.

_Opening scene setting._

> Harrison turned on him savagely. 'Look here,' he said, 'just you get out of that. What do you mean by bagging my seat?'

Harrison angrily confronted the new boy for taking his seat.

_Conflict initiation._

> Harrison's idea was that when Venables returned and found an absolute stranger placidly engaged in wrecking his carefully-tidied study, he would at once, and without making inquiries, fall upon that absolute stranger and blot him off the face of the earth.

Harrison hoped Venables would attack the new boy for wrecking his study.

_Harrison's revenge plan._

> Venables and the stranger were seated in two armchairs, apparently on the very best of terms with one another.

Venables and the new boy were getting along well.

_Prank backfires._

> Harrison turned a delicate shade of green.

Harrison turned pale with shock.

_Harrison's realization._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/school_stories_se/chapters/harrison-s-slight-error
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/school_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/school_stories_se/chapters