Herman Cyril McNeile

Name: Mufti — Chapter 4
Author: Herman Cyril McNeile

Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

Summary

“Mufti — Chapter 4”, published in 1919, is a work by Herman Cyril McNeile. It explores elements such as Vane, Lady Patterdale and John Patterdale.

Quotes from Mufti — Chapter 4 (Herman Cyril McNeile)

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ The view from it was magnificent, stretching away for miles and miles to the south, and terminating in the purple downs: and Vane, as the car waited for the gates to be opened, felt that indefinable thrill of pride that comes to every man when he looks on some glorious stretch of his own country. He noticed that the lodge-keeper had changed since he was there last, and not, it struck him, for the better. How well he remembered old John, with his sweet old wife, and their perfectly kept patch of garden and spotless little kitchen. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ And only a tired old woman knew quite how tired she felt. . . .
One of Sir John's pet weaknesses was having his wife and the staff photographed. Sometimes he appeared in the group himself, but on the whole he preferred impromptu snap-shots of himself chatting with wounded officers in the grounds. For these posed photographs Lady Patterdale arrayed herself in a light grey costume, with large red crosses scattered over it: and as Vane was strolling out into the gardens after lunch, he ran into her in this disguise in the hall. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ One felt, and one felt that in the bottom of her heart she felt, that she would have been far more happy in the kitchen. Except that in the kitchen her lost aspirates would probably have been handed back to her on a salver, whereas in the drawing-room they were ground into the carpet. . . . The spread of education has made the kitchen a very dangerous place.
In appearance Lady Patterdale was short and stout; eminently the type of woman who, if clothed according to the dictates of common sense, would be called a "comfortable old party." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ Vane looked at him thoughtfully for a moment before replying, and the car was already slowing down before he finally spoke. "He's a substitute for the old order of things. And according to the labels of all substitutes, they are the last word in modern efficiency."
The car pulled up at that moment, and they stepped out to find Lady Patterdale standing on the steps to welcome them.
Let it be said at once that Lady Patterdale was a perfect dear. One lost sight of her incredible vulgarity in view of the charming kindliness of her heart. And, after all, vulgarity is only comparative. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ They might even be happy once again. . . .
He had needed her in those days: turned to her for comfort when business was bad, taken her out on the burst--just they two alone--when things looked up and there had been a good day's takings. The excitement over choosing her best hat--the one with the bunches of fruit in it. . . . As long as she lived she would never forget the morning she tried it on, when he deserted the shop and cheered from the bedroom door, thereby losing a prospective customer. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ Vane laughed shortly as he pushed back his chair. "Does anything matter save one's own comfort? Personally I think slavery would be an admirable innovation."
Sir John Patterdale was everything that his wife was not. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ No one man can be. But I regard him as typical of a certain phase of that spirit. In all probability a magnificent platoon commander--there are thousands like him who have come into being with this war. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ Sir John found him too slow." Robert poured out a glass of beer. "He's in the village, sir. One of his sons was killed at Noove Chappel."
"I'm sorry about that. I must go and see him."
"He'd be proud, sir, if you'd be so kind. I often goes down there myself for a bit of a chat about the old days." With a sigh the old butler passed on, and Vane returned to his lunch. . . .
"You seem to know our archaic friend," remarked the officer sitting next him. "He's a dear old thing. . . ."
"He's one of a dying breed," said Vane shortly. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 4 (1919)

“ The future of the country lies very largely in their hands. What are they going to make of it?"
The same question--the same ceaseless refrain. Sometimes expressed, more often not. ENGLAND in the melting pot--what was going to happen? Unconsciously Vane's eyes rested on the figure of the old butler standing at the end of the room. There was something noble about the simplicity of the old man, confronted by the crashing of the system in which he and his father, and his father's father had been born. ”

Herman Cyril McNeile

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