Humor Wodehouse, P.G.: The Coming of Bill. v1. 16 Jul 07

[HarryT]

The Coming of Bill is the unlikely story of how Ruth Bannister and Kirk Winfield came to meet and marry, abetted by Ruth's Aunt Lora Porter and Kirk's friend, Steve. Banished by an angry John Bannister, Ruth's father, they live in bliss as their marriage begins and Bill is born. Kirk abandons his feeble artistic efforts to spend time with Ruth and Bill. But unexpected setbacks in his investments make him take the desperate gamble to leave for a year to find his fortune in South American gold mines. He returns, lucky to be alive, with a greatly changed personal situation. His wife's father has died, leaving her wealthy and bored, and she soon finds Kirk and Bill boring, too. To save herself from distasteful duties, Ruth has turned over her parenting duties to a nanny and Mrs. Porter's obsessive fear of germs. To come near Bill, you have to be bathed in boric acid. The marriage is about as friendly.

Then, the marriage is rocked by Kirk's unwillingness to play along any more. Can this marriage be saved?

Enjoy!

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[Stanart]

This is a little different than the usual Wodehouse. While there are still doses of humor the overall tone is a little more serious.

Thanks Harry for all the Wodehouse. He's one author I continue to re-read, in particular the Jeeves stories.