The Small Bachelor · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for The Small Bachelor by P. G. Wodehouse.
Chapter 1
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 2
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 3
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 4
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 5
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 6
V
George Finch, hiding under a bed in his sleeping-porch, discovers that the ankles he sees belong not to May Stubbs but to Fanny Mullett, the new wife of his valet Frederick Mullett. After a tense confrontation, Fanny reluctantly returns the stolen pearl necklace, and Mullett persuades her to give it up for good, announcing their retirement to a duck-farm. George then hurries to telephone Molly with the good news.
Chapter 7
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 8
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 9
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 10
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 11
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 12
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 13
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 14
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 15
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 16
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 17
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 18
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 19
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 20
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 21
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 22
V
George Finch, hiding under a bed in his sleeping-porch, discovers that the ankles he sees belong not to May Stubbs but to Fanny Mullett, the new wife of his valet Frederick Mullett. After a tense confrontation, Fanny reluctantly returns the stolen pearl necklace, and Mullett persuades her to give it up for good, announcing their retirement to a duck-farm. George then hurries to telephone Molly with the good news.
Chapter 23
V
George Finch, hiding under a bed in his sleeping-porch, discovers that the ankles he sees belong not to May Stubbs but to Fanny Mullett, the new wife of his valet Frederick Mullett. After a tense confrontation, Fanny reluctantly returns the stolen pearl necklace, and Mullett persuades her to give it up for good, announcing their retirement to a duck-farm. George then hurries to telephone Molly with the good news.
Chapter 24
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 25
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 26
VI
George Finch, now engaged to Molly Waddington, finds himself entangled in a web of social obligations and financial anxieties. He is visited by Hamilton Beamish, who is infatuated with a mysterious girl, and by Sigsbee Waddington, who pressures him to help steal a pearl necklace. George's attempts to maintain appearances and navigate the demands of his new family lead to increasing tension.
Chapter 27
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 28
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 29
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 30
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 31
V
George Finch, hiding under a bed in his sleeping-porch, discovers that the ankles he sees belong not to May Stubbs but to Fanny Mullett, the new wife of his valet Frederick Mullett. After a tense confrontation, Fanny reluctantly returns the stolen pearl necklace, and Mullett persuades her to give it up for good, announcing their retirement to a duck-farm. George then hurries to telephone Molly with the good news.
Chapter 32
VII
Hamilton Beamish has a telephone conversation with a woman, discussing George Finch's upcoming wedding and making dinner plans. He then deals with Officer Garroway, who has come to recite a bleak, modernist poem. Beamish criticizes the poem, advocating for love as the only proper subject for poetry, and advises Garroway on his poor stock investment.
Chapter 33
VIII
On George Finch's wedding day, a bright and cheerful morning is marred by news that the clergyman has sprained his ankle, delaying the ceremony. Molly and Mrs. Waddington depart to fetch a substitute, leaving George anxious and superstitious. Hamilton Beamish tries to reassure him, but George's unease grows, especially upon learning that a woman named May Stubbs from East Gilead is coming to see him.
Chapter 34
IX
George Finch and Hamilton Beamish discuss the impending arrival of May Stubbs, George's former 'understanding' from East Gilead, who threatens his wedding to Molly Waddington. Beamish proposes a scheme to make George appear a reprobate to disgust May, but George dismisses it. Meanwhile, Fanny Welch attempts to steal the pearl necklace for herself but is caught by Beamish, who then recruits her for his dramatic plan.
Chapter 35
Chapter X
Hamilton Beamish's plan to discredit George Finch in the eyes of May Stubbs backfires when May reveals herself to be Madame Eulalie, the woman with whom Beamish has fallen in love. Beamish, overcome with jealousy, abandons his intellectual persona and declares his love for May, proposing marriage on the spot. He then cancels the staged theft of the wedding presents and warns Fanny to abandon any plans to steal the jewels.
Chapter 36
XI
On his wedding day, George Finch encounters the Reverend Gideon Voules, a clergyman with a history of unfortunate weddings, and attempts to engage the butler Ferris in conversation, only to be met with disapproval. Meanwhile, Sigsbee H. Waddington learns that a block of stock he sold to a policeman is now worth millions due to an oil strike, prompting him to rush off to reclaim it.
Chapter 37
XII
Sigsbee H. Waddington returns home after a fruitless search through New York for a policeman named Mulcahy or Garrity, only to learn from the butler Ferris that the wedding was halted by a mysterious young woman who burst in and claimed to be wronged by George Finch. Realizing the pearl necklace has been stolen, he rushes to the dining room.
Chapter 38
XIII
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after a strong drink, rationalizes the disappearance of the pearl necklace as beneficial, but then recalls the name 'Gallagher' and decides to return to New York to pursue the thief and clear George Finch. He informs Molly and Mrs. Waddington that the necklace is gone, blaming the mysterious girl who fainted. Molly believes this proves George's innocence and wants to see him, while Mrs. Waddington remains suspicious and plans to go to New York herself. The butler Ferris also seeks a ride to the city, ostensibly to visit a sick relative but actually to sell the scandal story to a newspaper.
Chapter 39
XIV
George Finch, having recovered the pearl necklace, returns it to the Waddingtons, leading to a confrontation with Sigsbee. The engagement between George and Molly is broken off, and George leaves for the West. Meanwhile, Hamilton Beamish declares his love for Madame Eulalie, and May Stubbs arrives to stop the wedding, resulting in a chaotic resolution.
Chapter 40
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 41
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 42
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 43
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 44
V
George Finch, hiding under a bed in his sleeping-porch, discovers that the ankles he sees belong not to May Stubbs but to Fanny Mullett, the new wife of his valet Frederick Mullett. After a tense confrontation, Fanny reluctantly returns the stolen pearl necklace, and Mullett persuades her to give it up for good, announcing their retirement to a duck-farm. George then hurries to telephone Molly with the good news.
Chapter 45
XV
Molly and Sigsbee Horatio arrive at George's apartment after a delay, where Molly finds Officer Garroway recovering from a pepper attack by Mrs. Waddington. After Garroway leaves, Molly waits on the roof and is reunited with George. They embrace, but George fears they were seen by Lancelot Biffen. Molly reveals her plan to pack a suitcase, marry George the next morning, and elope. She insists George eat dinner before she returns, and he heads to the Purple Chicken.
Chapter 46
XVI
George Finch and Hamilton Beamish discuss the complexities of love and marriage, with George expressing his desire to marry Molly Waddington despite her family's disapproval. Hamilton shares his own romantic troubles, and they contemplate the challenges of social class and family dynamics.
Chapter 47
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 48
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 49
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 50
IV
George Finch remains hidden under a bed, contemplating his predicament and the various characters in his life, while Mrs. Waddington arrives on the scene and listens at the keyhole.
Chapter 51
V
George Finch, hiding under a bed in his sleeping-porch, discovers that the ankles he sees belong not to May Stubbs but to Fanny Mullett, the new wife of his valet Frederick Mullett. After a tense confrontation, Fanny reluctantly returns the stolen pearl necklace, and Mullett persuades her to give it up for good, announcing their retirement to a duck-farm. George then hurries to telephone Molly with the good news.
Chapter 52
Chapter XVII
George Finch, now a married man, reflects on his new life with May Stubbs and the changes in his social circle. He encounters various characters from his past, including Hamilton Beamish, who is still pining for Madame Eulalie, and the Waddingtons, who are dealing with the aftermath of the necklace theft. The chapter explores themes of love, marriage, and the shifting dynamics of social status.
Chapter 53
I
Mrs. Waddington confronts Ferris, the butler, whom she suspects of writing a scandalous article for Town Gossip. She then enlists Lord Hunstanton to witness what she believes is George Finch's immoral behavior, but they find the room empty. Officer Garroway, bearing a grudge from a previous pepper-throwing incident, arrives and arrests both Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton.
Chapter 54
II
Sigsbee H. Waddington, after an exhaustive search for a policeman named Gallagher, realizes he should have asked Hamilton Beamish about Officer Garroway. He rushes to Beamish's apartment, where his voice is heard by Garroway, who is holding Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton captive on the roof. Garroway is torn between confronting Waddington to recover his money and keeping his prisoners, but the arrival of an ambassadorial-looking man offers a potential resolution.
Chapter 55
III
Mrs. Waddington and Lord Hunstanton are locked in a sleeping-porch by Officer Garroway, who appoints the butler Ferris as his deputy to guard them. Ferris initially refuses to release them, but after negotiations, accepts a bribe of $215. However, he then reveals that the policeman took the key, leaving them trapped.
Chapter 56
XVIII
George learns Molly has left Hempstead and expects her arrival. Mr. Waddington visits, and George gives him the recovered necklace. Molly arrives and suspects someone is on the sleeping porch. George discovers Lord Hunstanton and Mrs. Waddington locked inside. Hamilton Beamish resolves tensions with Officer Garroway, and Mrs. Waddington reconciles with George.
