Happy-Go-Lucky

Ian Hay

Description

This delightful comic novel from Ian Hay follows the irrepressible Tilly Welwyn, a spirited and unique young woman, in her persistent attempts to catch the eye of an affluent suitor. Despite his affection for the girl, his family is dead-set against the match. Will these ill-matched lovers find a way to make it work?

Sujets

• Romance

Informations

• Publié par: The Floating Press
• Date de parution: 01 décembre 2016
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781776674893
• Langue: English

Extrait

HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
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IAN HAY
 
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Happy-Go-Lucky First published in 1913 Epub ISBN 978-1-77667-489-3 Also available: PDF ISBN 978-1-77667-490-9 © 2014 The Floating Press and its licensors. All rights reserved. While every effort has been used to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information contained in The Floating Press edition of this book, The Floating Press does not assume liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in this book. The Floating Press does not accept responsibility for loss suffered as a result of reliance upon the accuracy or currency of information contained in this book. Do not use while operating a motor vehicle or heavy equipment. Many suitcases look alike. Visit www.thefloatingpress.com
Contents
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BOOK ONE - YOUTHFUL EXCURSIONS Chapter I - A Brief Introduction Chapter II - The First Freak Chapter III - Io Saturnalia! BOOK TWO - A BLIND ALLEY Chapter IV - Travels with a First Reserve Chapter V - Very Odious Chapter VI - Forbidden Fruit—A Digression Chapter VII - Unearned Increment Chapter VIII - A Relapse Chapter IX - The Only Way Out Chapter X - Still at Large Chapter XI - The First Turning to the Right BOOK THREE - THE RIGHT ROAD Chapter XII - Mice and Men Chapter XIII - Lucidity Itself Chapter XIV - Another Cosy Chat, with an Interruption Chapter XV - A Day of Calm Reflection Chapter XVI - An Impossible Family Chapter XVII - The Word "Swank" Chapter XVIII - De L'Audace, et Encore de L'Audace, et Toujours de L'Audace! Chapter XIX - Sidelights on a Public Character Chapter XX - Rehearsed Effects Chapter XXI - Unrehearsed Chapter XXII - The Real Tilly Chapter XXIII - The Real Mr. Welwyn Chapter XXIV - A Garden Plot in Russell Square Chapter XXV - Purely Commercial Chapter XXVI - The Final Freak
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TO T. S. A. B.
BOOK ONE - YOUTHFUL EXCURSIONS
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Chapter I - A Brief Introduction
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They—that is, the London-and-the-south-thereof contingent of the HiviteHouse at Grandwich—always celebrated the first morning of the holidaysby breakfasting together at the Imperial Hotel at Oakleigh, as apreliminary to catching the nine-fifty-two.
A certain stateliness—not to say pomp—distinguished the function.Negotiations for the provision of the feast were opened at an earlydate—usually about half-term—the first step taking the form of adignified but ungrammatical communication, cast in that most intricateand treacherous of moulds, the third person, to the proprietor of thehotel, intimating, after compliments, that Mr. Rumbold ( major ), Hivite House, Grandwich School, would be much obliged if our partycould be supplied with breakfast, and you usually do it for half-a-crownas there are a lot of us, and if you don't we shall probably go to theGeorge, and as the party wishes to catch the train Mr. Rumbold would beobliged if you can give it to me punctually .
To this mine host would reply with a most gratifying typewrittendocument addressed to— Rumbold, Esq. ,—a form of address which neverfails to please so long as your parents and other adult correspondentspersist in designating you "Master,"—expressing the utmost willingnessto provide breakfast for Mr. Rumbold's party at two-and-sixpence perhead (which, by the way, was the normal charge), and concluding with atactfully-worded request for information (inadvertently omitted from Mr.Rumbold's original communication) upon the following points:—
(1) The date of the feast.
(2) The number of young gentlemen likely to be present.
(3) The hour of the train which they propose to catch.
During the second half-term Mr. Rumbold's leisure would be pleasantlyoccupied in recruiting the breakfast-party and communicating its numbersand requirements, intermittently and piecemeal, together with searchingenquiries re kidneys and ultimatums on the subject of scrambled eggs, tothe rapidly ageing proprietor of the Imperial Hotel.
On the joyous morning of departure a dozen emancipated Helots, allglorious in bowler hats and coloured ties which atoned at a bound forthirteen weeks of statutory headgear and subfusc. haberdashery,descended upon the Imperial Hotel and sat down with intense butbusinesslike cheerfulness to the half-crown breakfast. On theseoccasions distinctions of caste were disregarded. Fag and prefect satside by side. Brothers who had religiously cut one another throughoutthe term were reunited, even indulging in Christian names. Gentlemenwho had fought to a finish behind the fives-court every alternateWednesday afternoon since term began, took sweet counsel together uponthe respective merits of Egyptian and Turkish cigarettes.
On the particular occasion with which we are concerned—a crisp morningin December—the party numbered twelve. It is not necessary to describethem in detail, for ten of them make their appearance, in thisnarrative, at any rate, for the first and last time. Let it suffice tosay that Mr. Rumbold major sat at the head of the table and Mr. Rumboldminor at the foot, Mr. Rumbold tertius occupying a position abouthalfway down. Among others present might have been noticed (as thelittle society papers say) Mr. "Balmy" Coke, Mr. "Oaf" Sandiford, Mr."Buggy" Reid, Mr. "Slimy" Green, Mr. "Lummy" Law, and Mr. "Adenoid"Smith. More notable figures were Messrs. "Spangle" Jerningham and "Tiny"Carmyle—lesser luminaries than Rumbold himself, but shining lights inthe athletic firmament for all that.
One place only was vacant. The company, in accordance with what isprobably the most rigorous social code in existence—schoolboyetiquette—had divided itself into two groups. The first, consisting ofthose whose right to a place at the head of the table was unquestioned,settled down at once with loud and confident anticipations of enjoyment.The remainder followed their example with more diffidence, beginning atthe foot of the table and extending coyly upwards, those whose claim toa place above the salt was beginning to be more than considerablepunctiliously taking the lowest places in order to escape the dreadstigma of "side." Thus, by reason of the forces of mutual repulsion, agap occurred in the very middle of the table, between a nervous littleboy in spectacles, one Buggy Reid, and the magnificent Mr. Jerningham,Secretary of the Fifteen and the best racquets-player in the school.
"One short!" announced Rumbold. "Who is it?"
There was a general counting of heads. Mr. Reid timidly offeredinformation.
"I think it is The Freak," he said.
There was a general laugh.
"Wonder what he's up to now," mused Mr. Jerningham. "You ought to know,Rummy. Your fag, is n't he?"
"I gave him the bag two terms ago," replied the great man contentedly."Tiny has him now."
He turned to another of the seniors—a long-legged youth with a subduedmanner.
"Still got him, Tiny?"
"Yes," said Mr. Carmyle gloomily, "I have still got him. It's a hardlife, though."
"I know," said Rumbold sympathetically. "Does he cross-question youabout the photographs on your mantelpiece?"
"Yes," said Carmyle. "He spoke very favourably of my youngest sister.Showed me a photograph of his own, and asked me to come and stay withthem in the holidays. Said he thought I would have much in common withhis father."
There was general merriment at this, for Mr. Carmyle was patriarchal,both in appearance and habits. But it did nothing to soothe the nervesof The Freak himself, who happened at the moment to be standing shylyupon one leg outside the door, endeavouring to summon up sufficientcourage to walk in.
He was a small sandy-haired boy with shrewd blue eyes and a mostdisarming smile, and he belonged to a not uncommon and distinctlyunlucky class. There are boys who are shy and who look shy. Such areusually left to themselves, and gradually attain to confidence. Thereare boys who are bumptious and behave bumptiously. Such are usually putthrough a brief disciplinary course by their friends, and ultimatelyachieve respectability. And there are boys who are shy, but who,through sheer self-consciousness and a desire to conceal their shyness,behave bumptiously. The way of such is hard. Public Schooldisciplinary methods do not discriminate between the sheep and thegoats. Variations from the normal, whether voluntary or involuntary, areall corrected by the same methods. Unconventionality of every kind isrebuked by stern moralists who have been through the mill themselves,and are convinced that it would be ungenerous to deprive the succeedinggeneration of the benefits which have produced such brilliant results intheir own case.
The Freak—Master Richard Mainwaring—entered the school-world unfairlyhandicapped. He had never been from home before. He was an only son,and had had few companions but his parents. Consequently he wasaddicted to language and phraseology which, though meet and fitting uponthe lips of elderly gentlemen, sounded ineffably pedantic upon those ofan unkempt fag of fourteen. Finally, he was shy and sensitive, yetquite unable to indicate that characteristic by a retiring demeanour.
Life at school, then, did not begin too easily for him. He wasnaturally of a chirpy and confiding disposition, and the more nervous hefelt the more chirpy and confiding he became. He had no instincts,either, upon the subject of caste. Instead of confining himself to hisown impossible order of pariahs, he attempted to fraternise with any boywho interested him. He addressed great personages by their pet names; heinvited high potentates to come and partake of refreshment at hisexpense. Now, promiscuous bonhomie in new boys is not usuallyencouraged in the great schools of England, and all the ponderous andrelentless machinery available for the purpose was set in motion toimpress this truth upon the over-demonstrative Freak. Most of us knowthis mighty engine. Under its operations many sensitive little boyscrumple up into furtive and apathetic nonentities. Others grow intolicensed buffoons, battening upon their own shame, cadging for cheapapplause, thinking always of things to say and to do which will make