# The Return of Battling Billson explained — Ukridge Stories > Chapter companion for Ukridge Stories by P. G. Wodehouse. ## What happens The narrator, James Corcoran, recounts a humiliating incident where he is thrown out of a pub in Ratcliff Highway after being pickpocketed and unable to pay for his drink. He then receives a letter from Ukridge asking him to entertain Flossie's mother and her son Cecil, a task that proves to be a trying ordeal. After seeing them off at Euston, he confronts Ukridge, who explains that Flossie is the barmaid engaged to Battling Billson, and that the favor was necessary to appease her. ## Themes in this chapter ### Poverty and Impecunity The narrator is pickpocketed and unable to pay for his drink, leading to a humiliating ejection from the pub, highlighting the precariousness of his financial situation. ### Friendship and Loyalty Despite his resentment, the narrator agrees to entertain Flossie's mother as a favor to Ukridge, demonstrating the demands and burdens of friendship. ### Deception and Manipulation Ukridge manipulates the narrator into a difficult task by claiming a sprained ankle and downplaying the ordeal, revealing his scheming nature. ## Character check-ins ### Stanley Featherstonehaugh Ukridge Writes a letter asking the narrator to entertain Flossie's mother, claiming a sprained ankle; later reveals Flossie is Battling Billson's fiancée. ### Battling Billson Mentioned as being engaged to Flossie, the barmaid at the Crown in Kennington. ### George Tupper Referenced as having given a dinner at the Regent Grill where Ukridge brought Flossie; still cold toward Ukridge over the incident. ### Bowles Mrs. Bowles is Flossie's mother, who visits London and is entertained by the narrator; she wears a large pink hat and brings her son Cecil. ### Cecil Mrs. Bowles' son, a rat-faced, sinister-looking boy who accompanies his mother and proves difficult to entertain. ### Florence Burns Flossie, the barmaid at the Crown in Kennington, engaged to Battling Billson; her mother's visit is the reason for the narrator's ordeal. ## Key lines > I’m awfully sorry, I said, smiling an apologetic smile and endeavouring to put a debonair winsomeness into my voice. I find I’ve got no money. The narrator apologizes charmingly, explaining he has no money to pay for his drink. _Shows the narrator's attempt to defuse the situation with politeness after being pickpocketed._ > That’s what comes of tryin’ to snitch drinks, he said, with what seemed to me insufferable priggishness. The barman smugly criticizes the narrator for trying to get a free drink. _Highlights the barman's moralizing attitude and the narrator's indignation._ > I will defray all expenses later. Ukridge promises to pay back the narrator for any costs incurred. _Typical of Ukridge's empty promises, adding to the narrator's frustration._ > Crying with laughter, explained Ukridge, hurriedly. Ukridge quickly clarifies that he was laughing at the narrator's book, not crying. _Shows Ukridge's attempt to flatter the narrator after being caught in a lie._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ukridge_stories_se/chapters/the-return-of-battling-billson - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ukridge_stories_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ukridge_stories_se/chapters