Short Fiction · Chapter
Tom, Dick, and Harry explained
Tom Ellison and Dick Henley, both in love with Dolly Burn, agree to let a village cricket match decide who gets to propose to her first.
What happens
Tom Ellison and Dick Henley, both in love with Dolly Burn, agree to let a village cricket match decide who gets to propose to her first. They persuade the curate, Rev. Henry Drew, to let them bat together. Both score exactly 54 runs, leaving the contest unresolved. After the innings, the curate reveals that Dolly is already engaged to Harry.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Marriage
The central conflict revolves around two friends competing for the same woman, Dolly Burn, and the resolution that she is already engaged to another.
Comedy and Misunderstanding
The absurdity of the cricket match wager and the final twist—Dolly's engagement to Harry—provides a humorous resolution.
Characters to notice
- Tom Ellison
One of the two rivals in love with Dolly Burn; agrees to let the cricket match decide who proposes first.
- Dick Henley
The other rival; proposes the cricket match as a way to settle the competition for Dolly.
- The Rev. Henry Drew
Cricketing curate and captain of the village side; reluctantly allows Tom and Dick to bat first and later reveals Dolly's engagement.
Key passages
“Whichever of us makes the bigger score today wins. The loser has to keep absolutely off the grass.”
The man with the higher score gets to propose to Dolly; the other must stay away.
Dick proposes using the cricket match to decide the rivalry.
“I didn't tell you before, for fear it should put you off your game; but Miss Burn is engaged already, and has been for three days.”
The curate reveals that Dolly has been engaged for three days, rendering the competition moot.
The twist ending of the chapter.