Jill the Reckless

the Reckless, by P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse

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Title: Jill the Reckless
Author: P. G. (Pelham Grenville) Wodehouse
Release Date: February 6, 2007 [EBook #20533]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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JILL THE RECKLESS

BY
P. G. WODEHOUSE

HERBERT JENKINS LIMITED
3 DUKE OF YORK STREET
ST. JAMES'S, LONDON, S.W. 1
* * * * *

TO
MY WIFE
BLESS HER
* * * * *

CONTENTS
* I. THE FAMILY CURSE
* II. THE FIRST NIGHT AT THE LEICESTER
* III. JILL AND THE UNKNOWN ESCAPE
* IV. THE LAST OF THE ROOKES TAKES A HAND
* V. LADY UNDERHILL RECEIVES A SHOCK
* VI. UNCLE CHRIS BANGS THE TABLE
* VII. JILL CATCHES THE 10.10
* VIII. THE DRY-SALTERS WING DEREK
* IX. JILL IN SEARCH OF AN UNCLE
* X. JILL IGNORES AUTHORITY
* XI. MR. PILKINGTON'S LOVE LIGHT
* XII. UNCLE CHRIS BORROWS A FLAT
* XIII. THE AMBASSADOR ARRIVES
* XIV. MR. GOBLE MAKES THE BIG NOISE
* XV. JILL EXPLAINS
* XVI. MR. GOBLE PLAYS WITH FATE
* XVII. THE COST OF A ROW
*XVIII. JILL RECEIVES NOTICE
* XIX. MRS. PEAGRIM BURNS INCENSE
* XX. DEREK LOSES ONE BIRD AND SECURES ANOTHER
* XXI. WALLY MASON LEARNS A NEW EXERCISE
* * * * *

JILL THE RECKLESS
CHAPTER I
THE FAMILY CURSE
I
Freddie Rooke gazed coldly at the breakfast-table. Through a gleaming eye-glass he inspected the revolting object which Barker, his faithful man, had placed on a plate before him.
"Barker!" His voice had a ring of pain.
"Sir?"
"What's this?"
"Poached egg, sir."
Freddie averted his eyes with a silent shudder.
"It looks just like an old aunt of mine," he said. "Remove it!"
He got up, and, wrapping his dressing-gown about his long legs, took up a stand in front of the fireplace. From this position he surveyed the room, his shoulders against the mantelpiece, his calves pressing the club fender. It was a cheerful oasis in a chill and foggy world, a typical London bachelor's breakfast-room. The walls were a restful grey, and the table, set for two, a comfortable arrangement in white and silver.
"Eggs, Barker," said Freddie solemnly, "are the acid test!"
"Yes, sir?"
"If, on the morning after, you can tackle a poached egg, you are all right. If not, not. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise."
"No, sir."
Freddie pressed the palm of his hand to his brow, and sighed.
"It would seem, then, that I must have revelled a trifle whole-heartedly last night. I was possibly a little blotto. Not whiffled, perhaps, but indisputably blotto. Did I make much noise coming in?"
"No, sir. You were very quiet."
"Ah! A dashed bad sign!"
Freddie moved to the table, and poured himself a cup of coffee.
"The cream jug is to your right, sir," said the helpful Barker.
"Let it remain there. Caf�� noir for me this morning. As noir as it can jolly well stick!" Freddie retired to the fireplace and sipped delicately. "As far as I can remember, it was Ronny Devereux' birthday or something...."
"Mr. Martyn's, I think you said, sir."
"That's right. Algy Martyn's birthday, and Ronny and I were the guests. It all comes back to me. I wanted Derek to roll along and join the festivities--he's never met Ronny--but he gave it a miss. Quite right! A chap in his position has responsibilities. Member of Parliament and all that. Besides," said Freddie earnestly, driving home the point with a wave of his spoon, "he's engaged to be married. You must remember that, Barker!"
"I will endeavour to, sir."
"Sometimes," said Freddie dreamily, "I wish I were engaged to be married. Sometimes I wish I had some sweet girl to watch over me and.... No, I don't, by Jove. It would give me the utter pip! Is Sir Derek up yet, Barker?"
"Getting up, sir."
"See that everything is all right, will you? I mean as regards the food-stuffs and what not. I want him to make a good breakfast. He's got to meet his mother this morning at Charing Cross. She's legging it back from the Riviera."
"Indeed, sir?"
Freddie shook his head.
"You wouldn't speak in that light, careless tone if you knew her! Well, you'll see her to-night. She's coming here to dinner."
"Yes, sir."
"Miss Mariner will be here, too. A foursome. Tell Mrs. Barker to pull up her socks and give us something pretty ripe. Soup, fish, all that sort of thing. She knows. And let's have a stoup of malvoisie from the oldest bin. This is a special occasion!"
"Her ladyship will be meeting Miss Mariner for the first time, sir?"
"You've put your finger on it! Absolutely the first time on this or any stage! We must all rally round and