A. E. W. Mason

Name: The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member
Author: A. E. W. Mason

The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

Summary

“The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member”, published in 1920, is a work by A. E. W. Mason. It explores elements such as Hillyard, Luttrell and Chichester Splay.

Quotes from The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (A. E. W. Mason)

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ At six o'clock in the evening Colin Rayne, a young civilian in the Sudan Service, heard, as he sat on the balcony of the mess at Senga, the rhythmical thud of camels swinging in to their rest in the freshness of the night air.
"There's our man," he exclaimed, and running downstairs, he reached the door just as Hillyard's twelve camels and his donkeys trooped into the light. Hillyard was riding bareheaded, with his helmet looped to his saddle, a young man, worn thin by sun and exercise, with fair burnt hair, and a brown clean shaven face. ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ That was all very well too. He was welcome at the Senga Mess. But he knew Sir Chichester Splay! He acquired in an instant the importance of a prodigy.
"But, since he is an honorary member of your mess, you must know him too," cried Hillyard. "He must have come this way."
"My dear Martin!" Luttrell expostulated, as one upbraiding a child. "Sir Chichester Splay out of London! The thing's inconceivable!"
"Inconceivable! Why, he lives in the country."
A moment of consternation stilled all voices. Then the Doctor spoke in a whisper.
"Is it possible that we are all wrong?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ Luttrell leaned back and relit his cigar.
"When other people come to be mentioned in the newspapers day after day, sooner or later some information about them slips out, some characteristic thing. If you don't get to know their appearance, you learn at all events their professions, their opinions. But of Sir Chichester Splay—never anything at all. Yet he is there always, nothing can happen without his presence, a man without a shadow, a being without a history. To me, a simple soldier, he is admirable beyond words. ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ The Sudanese fixed his eyes upon Luttrell's foot and Luttrell began to talk, rapidly and rather to himself than to his audience. Hillyard could make neither head nor tail of the strange scene. It was evident that Luttrell was rehearsing a speech, but why? And what had the Sudanese with the mallet to do with it?
A sudden and rapid sequence of events brought the truth home to him with a shock. At a point of his speech Luttrell stamped twice, and the Sudanese soldier swung his mallet with all his force. The head of it struck the great support full and square. ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ Luttrell nodded solemnly, and raised his glass.
"Gentlemen, the Honorary Member of the Senga Mess—Sir Chichester Splay."
The toast was drunk with enthusiasm by all but Hillyard, who sat staring about him and wondering what in the world the Mecaenas of the First Nights had in common with these youthful administrators far-flung to the Equator.
"You don't drink, Martin," cried Luttrell. A Socialist at a Public Dinner who refused to honour the Royal Toast could only have scandalised the chairman by a few degrees more than Hillyard's indifference did now. ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ We eat together, morning, noon, and night; we work together; we play polo together—we can never get away from each other. And in consequence we get on each other's nerves, especially in the months of hot weather. Ill-temper comes to the top. We quarrel. Irreparable things might be said. That's where Sir Chichester Splay comes in. When the quarrel's getting bitter, we refer it to his arbitration. And, since he has no opinions, we laugh and are saved." Luttrell resumed his walk to the Governor's house.
"Yes, I see now," said Hillyard. ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ Rayne saw the caravan emerge spectrally into the light and disappear again.
"They are our beasts," he said in a voice of relief, and a minute later he called down to the soldier in charge. He spoke in the Dinka language and the soldier replied in the same tongue. Hillyard understood enough of it now to learn that the women had arrived safely at Senaar without any incident or annoyance.
"That's good," said Colin Rayne. He turned to Hillyard. "Luttrell's a long time. Shall we go and find him?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

A. E. W. Mason, The Summons — VI: The Honorary Member (1920)

“ Sir Chichester Splay, spurred by his ambition to be a country gentleman with a foot in town, had chosen the neighbourhood on account of his name, so that it might come to be believed that he had a territorial connection. ”

A. E. W. Mason

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