# The Talking-Out of Tarrington explained — Short Fiction

> Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Saki.

## What happens

Clovis helps his aunt avoid an unwanted social encounter with Mr. Tarrington by engaging him in a deliberately absurd and evasive conversation, ultimately driving him away.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Moral Facade

Clovis's aunt pretends not to know Tarrington, and Clovis feigns ignorance to avoid social obligation.

### The Absurdity of Social Rituals

The elaborate avoidance of a simple invitation and Clovis's ridiculous conversation highlight the absurdity of social conventions.

## Character check-ins

### Clovis Sangrail

Volunteers to distract Mr. Tarrington, using witty and nonsensical talk to drive him away.

### Bertie van Tahn

Mentioned as the aunt of Clovis, who seeks to avoid Tarrington.

## Key lines

> Heavens! here's someone I know bearing down on us. I can't remember his name, but he lunched with us once in town. Tarrington—yes, that's it. He's heard of the picnic I'm giving for the princess, and he'll cling to me like a lifebelt till I give him an invitation; then he'll ask if he may bring all his wives and mothers and sisters with him. That's the worst of these small watering-places; one can't escape from anybody.

Clovis's aunt panics upon seeing a man she vaguely recalls, fearing he will pester her for a picnic invitation and then ask to bring his entire family, lamenting the inescapability of small resort towns.

_Sets up the social dilemma and the aunt's motivation for escape._

> I shall certainly go in for a Parliamentary career. As a talker-out of inconvenient bills I should be invaluable.

Clovis muses that his talent for obfuscation would make him an excellent politician, skilled at filibustering unwanted legislation.

_Clovis's self-satisfied conclusion, highlighting his cleverness and the story's satirical edge._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters/the-talking-out-of-tarrington
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_49_se/chapters