Short Fiction · Chapter
The Bag explained
Mrs.
What happens
Mrs. Hoopington urges her niece Norah to be bright and lively for Major Pallaby, who is in a gloomy mood due to his unpopularity as Master of the Pexdale Hounds. Norah has brought a young Russian guest, Vladimir, whose hunting habits annoy Mrs. Hoopington. Vladimir returns from shooting with a full game-bag, and Norah discovers he has shot a fox. In a panic, she tells him to hide the bag, but it catches on an antler and hangs above the tea table. During tea, the fox-terrier sniffs the bag, revealing the contents. The Major and Mrs. Hoopington realize what has happened, and the Major resigns his mastership in fury. Vladimir later buries the fox in the garden.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Moral Facade
Mrs. Hoopington's concern for appearances and the Major's fury highlight the social hypocrisy surrounding hunting etiquette.
The Absurdity of Social Rituals
The frantic efforts to hide the fox and the Major's dramatic resignation underscore the absurdity of hunting customs.
Characters to notice
- Norah
Mrs. Hoopington's niece, who tries to manage the crisis when Vladimir shoots a fox.
- Mrs. Hoopington
Hostess at Hoopington Hall, determined to marry Major Pallaby and furious at Vladimir's blunder.
- Major Pallaby
Master of the Pexdale Hounds, already gloomy due to hunting troubles, and enraged by the shooting of a fox.
- Vladimir
A young Russian guest who accidentally shoots a fox and hides it in his game-bag, causing a scandal.
Key passages
“The Major is coming in to tea. He's just gone round to the stables with his horse. Be as bright and lively as you can; the poor man's got a fit of the glooms.”
Mrs. Hoopington tells Norah to be cheerful because Major Pallaby is in a bad mood.
Sets up the tense social atmosphere of the chapter.
“Hide it, hide it! My aunt and the Major will be here in a moment. Throw it on the top of that chest; they won't see it there.”
Norah panics and tells Vladimir to conceal the game-bag containing the fox.
Key moment of crisis and attempted cover-up.
“You've shot the fox!”
Mrs. Hoopington and the Major accuse Vladimir of killing a fox.
Climactic revelation that triggers the Major's outburst.