# Chapter VIII explained — Something New > Chapter companion for Something New by P. G. Wodehouse. ## What happens After the chaotic dinner scene, Lord Emsworth dismisses Baxter's apologies and orders everyone to bed. George Emerson, troubled by Aline Peters' self-starvation in solidarity with her father's diet, devises a plan to bring her food late at night. He has already procured a tongue, bread, wine, and utensils from Market Blandings and smuggled them into his room. Now, at nearly two in the morning, he sets out to deliver the provisions to Aline's room. Meanwhile, the Efficient Baxter, exhausted from his vigil in the gallery, struggles to stay awake and focus on guarding the scarab. ## Themes in this chapter ### Romance and Rivalry George's elaborate plan to bring Aline food late at night demonstrates his romantic devotion, while his rivalry with Baxter is implied through the parallel nocturnal activities. ### Comedy of Manners and Mistaken Identity The chapter's humor arises from the absurdity of George's stealth mission, Baxter's exhausted vigil, and the social delicacy of smuggling food in a grand house. ## Character check-ins ### George Emerson George is determined to rescue Aline from starvation by smuggling food to her room late at night, having procured supplies from Market Blandings. ### Aline Peters Aline is the object of George's concern; she has been restricting herself to vegetable messes to support her father's diet, causing George to worry about her health. ### Rupert Baxter Baxter, exhausted from his nightly vigils, struggles to stay awake and concentrate on guarding the scarab, his thoughts wandering despite his efforts. ### Lord Emsworth Lord Emsworth firmly ends the dinner scene by ordering everyone to bed, showing his disapproval of Baxter's behavior. ### Freddie Threepwood Freddie accompanies George to Market Blandings in the runabout, though he seems unenthusiastic and eager to part ways. ## Key lines > The scrutiny of the knife-and-shoe boy was unendurable. He stammered. Words began to proceed from him, tripping and stumbling over each other. Baxter was so embarrassed by the knife-and-shoe boy's stare that he could barely speak, his words coming out in a jumble. _Baxter's humiliation at being caught eating by the servants._ > George Emerson sat in his bedroom in the bachelors' wing of the castle smoking a cigarette. A light of resolution was in his eyes. George was in his room, smoking and looking determined. _George's resolute mood as he prepares to deliver food to Aline._ > He had devoted the day to thinking out a solution of the problem. He had spent the entire day figuring out how to help Aline. _George's dedication to solving Aline's dietary issue._ > It was as one who carries dispatches through an enemy's lines that George took cover, emerged from cover, dodged, ducked and ran; George moved through the castle like a spy, hiding and dashing to avoid being seen while smuggling the food to his room. _The stealth required to bring provisions into the castle without detection._ > On his chair in the gallery that ran round the hall, swathed in an overcoat and wearing rubber-soled shoes, the Efficient Baxter sat and gazed into the darkness. Baxter, wrapped in an overcoat and wearing rubber shoes, sat in the gallery chair staring into the dark. _Baxter's uncomfortable and weary vigil._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/something_new_se/chapters/viii - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/something_new_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/something_new_se/chapters