Jeeves Takes Charge
Encyclopedia
"Jeeves Takes Charge" is a short story
written by P. G. Wodehouse
. It was first published in the United States
in The Saturday Evening Post
on November 18, 1916, and in the United Kingdom
in the April 1923 edition of Strand Magazine
. Its first book publication was in Carry on, Jeeves
in 1925. In 1995 Recorded Books recorded the book onto cassette tape narrated by Alexander Spencer.
narrates, recalling Jeeves
's first days as his valet
. Bertie had been staying at Easeby, his Uncle Willoughby's estate in Shropshire
, with his valet Meadowes, and had been forced to return to London
in search of a new valet after having observed Meadowes stealing his silk socks. At the time, he was engaged to Lady Florence Craye
, who upon his departure from Easeby had given him a thick and complicatedly intellectual book entitled Types of Ethical Theory
, expecting him to read it in the week before his return.
In his London flat, Bertie picks up the volume and begins to read it, feeling achy and suffering from "morning head", but is interrupted by the arrival of Jeeves, a new valet sent by the local agency. Bertie is immediately impressed by Jeeves's manner of walking: he "floated noiselessly through the doorway like a healing zephyr
", a sharp contrast to Meadowes's flat-footed clumping.
Jeeves, observing Bertie's painful state of mind, goes directly to the kitchen and returns with a drink on a tray, suggesting that Bertie drink it. It consists, he explains, of Worcester Sauce
for colour, raw egg for nutrition, and red pepper
for bite, among other ingredients. Bertie willingly swallows the contents of the glass, and feels a change immediately. He felt as if everything in the world is just fine.
Jeeves notices a likeness of Lady Florence on Bertie's mantelpiece and comments on the eccentricity of her father, Lord Worplesdon
, whose employ he left when his lordship insisted on dining in dress trousers, a flannel shirt, and a shooting coat. Bertie reveals to Jeeves that he is engaged to Florence; though Jeeves replies courteously, Bertie detects "a certain rummy something about his manner", and assumes that it must be due to Lady Florence's being somewhat imperious with the domestic staff.
Jeeves enters with a telegram from Florence, instructing that Bertie must return immediately, since a matter of extreme urgency has arisen. As Jeeves is packing, he expresses disapproval of Bertie's "rather sprightly young check" suit, suggesting a simpler brown or white twill
instead; Bertie informs him that this is "absolute rot" and "perfectly blithering", to which Jeeves nevertheless replies courteously.
Upon arriving at Easeby, Oakshott
, Willoughby's butler, shows Bertie directly into Lady Florence's room, where she explains the dire situation in which she has found herself. She recalls how, before his departure, Bertie, who was at this point dependent on Willoughby for financial support, had suggested that Florence do her best to ingratiate herself to him, in preparation for the announcement of their engagement. She had done so by offering to let him read his nearly-complete history of the family to her.
He read the manuscript to her gladly, but Florence was alarmed to discover that it was not, in fact, a history of the family; rather, it was his reminisces, to be titled Recollections of a Long Life. Worse yet, it consisted largely of scandalous stories, especially about people who had grown to become "the essence of propriety", one of whom was her father, now Lord Worplesdon
; indeed, the book began with a tale of how Willoughby and Worplesdon were thrown out of a dance hall in 1887. Even Lord Emsworth
—"Not the one we know? Not the one at Blandings
?"—was the subject of such a story.
Florence is outraged at her father's behaviour as a young man, and fears lest such disgraceful information become public. The manuscript is to be mailed the next day to Riggs and Ballinger, publishers who specialise in such reminisces, and she wants Bertie to intercept and destroy it, since she will be away for the next several days. He expresses reluctance; they argue, and he raises numerous objections; but at last Florence accuses him of preferring his uncle's money to her love, and vows never to marry him if the manuscript is published. He acquiesces and leaves the room, immediately encountering Jeeves, who informs him that someone has been putting black polish on a pair of his brown shoes, and that they are ruined.
." Edwin Craye, Florence's younger brother, explains that he was tidying Bertie's room as last Saturday's act of kindness, since he is five days behind, and had been six until he polished Bertie's shoes. Bertie tries to convince him to leave, which he will not do until presented with another act of kindness to do in place of cleaning the room; Bertie hands him a box of cigars, and instructs him to go to the smoking room and cut the ends off. Pondering what to do with the manuscript, Bertie eventually decides on locking it in the bottom drawer of a bureau in his room.
On Saturday morning, Willoughby accosts Bertie to inform him that, upon telephoning Messrs. Riggs and Ballinger, he was informed that they had not yet received the parcel. Oakshott has asserted that there was no such parcel among the mail on the day Willoughby intended to send it; consequently, Willoughby believes it has been stolen, possibly by a kleptomania
c. Bertie informs his uncle that he has already discovered and sacked his valet Meadowes for stealing various small items. They part, Willoughby baffled and Bertie pretending to be.
Later, Bertie goes for a stroll in the garden, and, while passing under the open library window, hears Edwin accusing Bertie of having stolen the parcel, since he saw him with it while in his room earlier. Willoughby does not believe it; nevertheless, Edwin convinces him to search Bertie's room, suggesting that he affect to be looking for something left by Mr. Berkeley, the room's previous occupant.
Bertie dashes to his room to relocate the parcel, but is unable to find the key to the drawer in which it is locked, and is busy looking for it when Willoughby enters and awkwardly announces his intent to search the room for Berkeley's cigarette case. When he reaches the locked drawer, Jeeves enters the room and offers him the key, which he had found in Bertie's clothes from the previous evening. Bertie "could have massacred the man" until, to his surprise, Willoughby opens the drawer and discovers that it is empty. He departs, apologising for the intrusion.
Bertie then queries Jeeves, who assures him that the parcel is stowed safely elsewhere. Bertie thanks Jeeves heartily for saving him much embarrassment.
Bertie confronts Jeeves who admits to having mailed the parcel. He thinks that Florence overestimated people's offence at being mentioned in the book, mentioning a similar experience which his aunt had; Bertie cuts him off and tells him that he is sacked. Jeeves, no longer in Bertie's employ, then gives the true reason why he mailed the parcel: he did not believe Florence and Bertie were suitable for each other, she being of a highly arbitrary temperament, and inclined to make him read Nietzsche
. Bertie will not hear it, orders him out, and goes to bed.
The next morning he awakens considerably less heartbroken and, upon opening to a particularly difficult passage in Types of Ethical Theory and reflecting that Nietzsche is much worse than that, re-hires Jeeves. He then asks him again about the check suit, which Jeeves maintains is "a trifle too bizarre". Bertie hesitates, undergoing an internal struggle:
He orders Jeeves to give the suit away. Jeeves, looking down at him "like a father gazing tenderly at the wayward child", informs him that he gave it to the under-gardener the previous night.
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
written by P. G. Wodehouse
P. G. Wodehouse
Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse, KBE was an English humorist, whose body of work includes novels, short stories, plays, poems, song lyrics, and numerous pieces of journalism. He enjoyed enormous popular success during a career that lasted more than seventy years and his many writings continue to be...
. It was first published in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
on November 18, 1916, and in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
in the April 1923 edition of Strand Magazine
Strand Magazine
The Strand Magazine was a monthly magazine composed of fictional stories and factual articles founded by George Newnes. It was first published in the United Kingdom from January 1891 to March 1950 running to 711 issues, though the first issue was on sale well before Christmas 1890.Its immediate...
. Its first book publication was in Carry on, Jeeves
Carry on, Jeeves
Carry on, Jeeves is a collection of ten short stories by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the United Kingdom on 9 October 1925 by Herbert Jenkins, London, and in the United States on October 7, 1927 by George H. Doran, New York...
in 1925. In 1995 Recorded Books recorded the book onto cassette tape narrated by Alexander Spencer.
Arrival of Jeeves
Bertie WoosterBertie Wooster
Bertram Wilberforce "Bertie" Wooster is a recurring fictional character in the Jeeves novels of British author P. G. Wodehouse. An English gentleman, one of the "idle rich" and a member of the Drones Club, he appears alongside his valet, Jeeves, whose genius manages to extricate Bertie or one of...
narrates, recalling Jeeves
Jeeves
Reginald Jeeves is a fictional character in the short stories and novels of P. G. Wodehouse, being the valet of Bertie Wooster . Created in 1915, Jeeves would continue to appear in Wodehouse's works until his final, completed, novel Aunts Aren't Gentlemen in 1974, making him Wodehouse's most famous...
's first days as his valet
Valet
Valet and varlet are terms for male servants who serve as personal attendants to their employer.- Word origins :In the Middle Ages, the valet de chambre to a ruler was a prestigious appointment for young men...
. Bertie had been staying at Easeby, his Uncle Willoughby's estate in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, with his valet Meadowes, and had been forced to return to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in search of a new valet after having observed Meadowes stealing his silk socks. At the time, he was engaged to Lady Florence Craye
Florence Craye
Lady Florence Craye is a fictional character who appears in P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories and novels. Lady Florence, the daughter of Percy Craye, Earl of Worplesdon and elder sister to Edwin, a nasty little runtish type of lad, is the sometime fiancee of Bertie Wooster...
, who upon his departure from Easeby had given him a thick and complicatedly intellectual book entitled Types of Ethical Theory
James Martineau
James Martineau was an English religious philosopher influential in the history of Unitarianism. For 45 years he was Professor of Mental and Moral Philosophy and Political Economy in Manchester New College, the principal training college for British Unitarianism.-Early life:He was born in Norwich,...
, expecting him to read it in the week before his return.
In his London flat, Bertie picks up the volume and begins to read it, feeling achy and suffering from "morning head", but is interrupted by the arrival of Jeeves, a new valet sent by the local agency. Bertie is immediately impressed by Jeeves's manner of walking: he "floated noiselessly through the doorway like a healing zephyr
Zephyr
Zephyr may refer to:* A light or west wind* Zephyrus, one of the Anemoi and the Greek god of the west wind* Zephyranthes, a plant genus whose species include the zephyr lily* Zephyr , a well-known graffiti artist from New York City...
", a sharp contrast to Meadowes's flat-footed clumping.
Jeeves, observing Bertie's painful state of mind, goes directly to the kitchen and returns with a drink on a tray, suggesting that Bertie drink it. It consists, he explains, of Worcester Sauce
Worcestershire sauce
Worcestershire sauce , or Worcester sauce is a fermented liquid condiment; primarily used to flavour meat or fish dishes.First made at 60 Broad Street, Worcester, England, by two dispensing chemists, John Wheeley Lea and William Henry Perrins, the Lea & Perrins brand was commercialised in 1837 and...
for colour, raw egg for nutrition, and red pepper
Capsicum
Capsicum is a genus of flowering plants in the nightshade family, Solanaceae. Its species are native to the Americas where they have been cultivated for thousands of years, but they are now also cultivated worldwide, used as spices, vegetables, and medicines - and have become are a key element in...
for bite, among other ingredients. Bertie willingly swallows the contents of the glass, and feels a change immediately. He felt as if everything in the world is just fine.
- "You're engaged!" I said, as soon as I could say anything.
Jeeves notices a likeness of Lady Florence on Bertie's mantelpiece and comments on the eccentricity of her father, Lord Worplesdon
Lord Worplesdon
Percival "Percy" Craye, later Earl of Worplesdon, is a recurring fictional character from the Jeeves stories of British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse, being Agatha Gregson's second husband, who would have been her first but for Agatha's discovering that he had behaved shamefully at a ball at Covent...
, whose employ he left when his lordship insisted on dining in dress trousers, a flannel shirt, and a shooting coat. Bertie reveals to Jeeves that he is engaged to Florence; though Jeeves replies courteously, Bertie detects "a certain rummy something about his manner", and assumes that it must be due to Lady Florence's being somewhat imperious with the domestic staff.
Jeeves enters with a telegram from Florence, instructing that Bertie must return immediately, since a matter of extreme urgency has arisen. As Jeeves is packing, he expresses disapproval of Bertie's "rather sprightly young check" suit, suggesting a simpler brown or white twill
Twill
Twill is a type of textile weave with a pattern of diagonal parallel ribs . This is done by passing the weft thread over one or more warp threads and then under two or more warp threads and so on, with a "step" or offset between rows to create the characteristic diagonal pattern. Because of this...
instead; Bertie informs him that this is "absolute rot" and "perfectly blithering", to which Jeeves nevertheless replies courteously.
Return to Easeby
That afternoon, Bertie and Jeeves return by train to Easeby. Bertie cannot imagine what crisis might have caused Florence to insist on his immediate presence. He recalls that Uncle Willoughby is finishing a history of the Wooster family, and that despite his present appearance of seemliness and propriety, he was "a bit of a bounder" in his youth.Upon arriving at Easeby, Oakshott
Oakshott
Oakshott is a hamlet in the East Hampshire district of Hampshire, England. It is 1 mile south of the village of Hawkley, 2.8 miles north of Petersfield.The nearest railway station is Petersfield, 2.8 miles south of the hamlet....
, Willoughby's butler, shows Bertie directly into Lady Florence's room, where she explains the dire situation in which she has found herself. She recalls how, before his departure, Bertie, who was at this point dependent on Willoughby for financial support, had suggested that Florence do her best to ingratiate herself to him, in preparation for the announcement of their engagement. She had done so by offering to let him read his nearly-complete history of the family to her.
He read the manuscript to her gladly, but Florence was alarmed to discover that it was not, in fact, a history of the family; rather, it was his reminisces, to be titled Recollections of a Long Life. Worse yet, it consisted largely of scandalous stories, especially about people who had grown to become "the essence of propriety", one of whom was her father, now Lord Worplesdon
Lord Worplesdon
Percival "Percy" Craye, later Earl of Worplesdon, is a recurring fictional character from the Jeeves stories of British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse, being Agatha Gregson's second husband, who would have been her first but for Agatha's discovering that he had behaved shamefully at a ball at Covent...
; indeed, the book began with a tale of how Willoughby and Worplesdon were thrown out of a dance hall in 1887. Even Lord Emsworth
Lord Emsworth
Clarence Threepwood, 9th Earl of Emsworth, or Lord Emsworth, is a recurring fictional character in the Blandings stories by British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse. He is the amiable and somewhat absent-minded head of the large Threepwood family...
—"Not the one we know? Not the one at Blandings
Blandings Castle
Blandings Castle is a recurring fictional location in the stories of British comic writer P. G. Wodehouse, being the seat of Lord Emsworth , home to many of his family, and setting for numerous tales and adventures, written between 1915 and 1975.The series of stories which take place at the castle,...
?"—was the subject of such a story.
Florence is outraged at her father's behaviour as a young man, and fears lest such disgraceful information become public. The manuscript is to be mailed the next day to Riggs and Ballinger, publishers who specialise in such reminisces, and she wants Bertie to intercept and destroy it, since she will be away for the next several days. He expresses reluctance; they argue, and he raises numerous objections; but at last Florence accuses him of preferring his uncle's money to her love, and vows never to marry him if the manuscript is published. He acquiesces and leaves the room, immediately encountering Jeeves, who informs him that someone has been putting black polish on a pair of his brown shoes, and that they are ruined.
Theft of the parcel
The following day after breakfast, Bertie waits around the house until Uncle Willoughby emerges from his library and deposits the parcel with the manuscript on a table to be taken with the mail. Bertie snatches it immediately and absconds to his upstairs bedroom, whereupon entering he "nearly stub[s] [his] toe on young blighter Edwin, the Boy ScoutScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
." Edwin Craye, Florence's younger brother, explains that he was tidying Bertie's room as last Saturday's act of kindness, since he is five days behind, and had been six until he polished Bertie's shoes. Bertie tries to convince him to leave, which he will not do until presented with another act of kindness to do in place of cleaning the room; Bertie hands him a box of cigars, and instructs him to go to the smoking room and cut the ends off. Pondering what to do with the manuscript, Bertie eventually decides on locking it in the bottom drawer of a bureau in his room.
On Saturday morning, Willoughby accosts Bertie to inform him that, upon telephoning Messrs. Riggs and Ballinger, he was informed that they had not yet received the parcel. Oakshott has asserted that there was no such parcel among the mail on the day Willoughby intended to send it; consequently, Willoughby believes it has been stolen, possibly by a kleptomania
Kleptomania
Kleptomania is an irresistible urge to steal items of trivial value. People with this disorder are compelled to steal things, generally, but not limited to, objects of little or no significant value, such as pens, paper clips, paper and tape...
c. Bertie informs his uncle that he has already discovered and sacked his valet Meadowes for stealing various small items. They part, Willoughby baffled and Bertie pretending to be.
Later, Bertie goes for a stroll in the garden, and, while passing under the open library window, hears Edwin accusing Bertie of having stolen the parcel, since he saw him with it while in his room earlier. Willoughby does not believe it; nevertheless, Edwin convinces him to search Bertie's room, suggesting that he affect to be looking for something left by Mr. Berkeley, the room's previous occupant.
Bertie dashes to his room to relocate the parcel, but is unable to find the key to the drawer in which it is locked, and is busy looking for it when Willoughby enters and awkwardly announces his intent to search the room for Berkeley's cigarette case. When he reaches the locked drawer, Jeeves enters the room and offers him the key, which he had found in Bertie's clothes from the previous evening. Bertie "could have massacred the man" until, to his surprise, Willoughby opens the drawer and discovers that it is empty. He departs, apologising for the intrusion.
Bertie then queries Jeeves, who assures him that the parcel is stowed safely elsewhere. Bertie thanks Jeeves heartily for saving him much embarrassment.
Florence's return
Florence returns to Easeby on Monday morning and goes directly to interrogate Bertie about the parcel; however, they are interrupted by Willoughby, who announces joyfully that Messrs. Riggs and Ballinger have received the parcel, and returns to his library. Florence is furious and will hear no explanation. She breaks off their engagement immediately, accuses Bertie of having caved to the allure of his uncle's money, and informs him that his Aunt Agatha was right all along about his spinelessness. She storms away, leaving Bertie to search for Jeeves.Bertie confronts Jeeves who admits to having mailed the parcel. He thinks that Florence overestimated people's offence at being mentioned in the book, mentioning a similar experience which his aunt had; Bertie cuts him off and tells him that he is sacked. Jeeves, no longer in Bertie's employ, then gives the true reason why he mailed the parcel: he did not believe Florence and Bertie were suitable for each other, she being of a highly arbitrary temperament, and inclined to make him read Nietzsche
Friedrich Nietzsche
Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche was a 19th-century German philosopher, poet, composer and classical philologist...
. Bertie will not hear it, orders him out, and goes to bed.
The next morning he awakens considerably less heartbroken and, upon opening to a particularly difficult passage in Types of Ethical Theory and reflecting that Nietzsche is much worse than that, re-hires Jeeves. He then asks him again about the check suit, which Jeeves maintains is "a trifle too bizarre". Bertie hesitates, undergoing an internal struggle:
- I had a feeling that I was passing into this chappie's clutches, and that if I gave in now, I should become ... unable to call my soul my own. On the other hand, this was obviously a cove of rare intelligence, and it would be a comfort in a lot of ways to have him do the thinking for me. I made up my mind.
He orders Jeeves to give the suit away. Jeeves, looking down at him "like a father gazing tenderly at the wayward child", informs him that he gave it to the under-gardener the previous night.
External links
- Russian Wodehouse Society: Information about Carry on, Jeeves and the stories which it contains.