Herman Cyril McNeile

Name: Mufti — Chapter 5
Author: Herman Cyril McNeile

Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

Summary

“Mufti — Chapter 5”, published in 1919, is a work by Herman Cyril McNeile. It explores elements such as Vane, goal and Lady Patterdale.

Quotes from Mufti — Chapter 5 (Herman Cyril McNeile)

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ It was under the shade of a great rhododendron bush that Vane was first privileged to meet Sir John. The bush was a blaze of scarlet and purple, which showed up vividly against the green of the grass and the darker green of the shrubs around. Through the trees could be seen glimpses of the distant hills, and Vane, as he stumbled unexpectedly into this sudden bit of fairyland, caught his breath with the glory of it. Then with drastic suddenness he recalled that half-forgotten hymn of childhood, of which the last line runs somewhat to the effect that "only man is vile." ”

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Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ At last Sir John left Vane to himself, and with a sigh of relief he sank into the chair so recently vacated by the cavalryman. In his hand he held a couple of magazines, but, almost unheeded, they slipped out of his fingers on to the grass. He felt supremely and blissfully lazy. The soft thud of tennis balls, and the players' voices calling the score, came faintly through the still air, and Vane half closed his eyes. Then a sudden rustle of a skirt beside him broke into his thoughts, and he looked up into the face of the girl whom Lady Patterdale had greeted as Joan. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ Vane asked.
"Than most of the others." Her smile was a trifle enigmatic. "There is a cavalryman here and one or two others--but . . . well! you know what I mean."
"I do know what you mean--exactly," he remarked quietly. "And, Joan, it's all wrong."
"It's all natural, anyway. Their ways are not our ways; their thoughts are not our thoughts. . . . I can't help whether I'm being a poisonous snob or not; it's what I feel. Take Sir John. Why, the man's an offence to the eye. He's a complete outsider. What right has he got to be at Rumfold?" ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ Suddenly Vane leaned forward. "May I ask your age, Joan?"
Her eyebrows went up slightly. "Joan!" she said.
"I dislike addressing the unknown," remarked Vane, "and I heard Lady Patterdale call you Joan. But if you prefer it--may I ask your age, Miss Snooks?"
She laughed merrily. "I think I prefer Joan, thank you; though I don't generally allow that until the fourth or fifth performance. You see, if one gets on too quickly it's so difficult to fill in the time at the end if the convalescence is a long one."
"I am honoured," remarked Vane. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ The girl bit her lip--but her eyes did not leave Vane's face.
"He died, still lying in the wet chalky sludge, still grinning, and thanking the stretcher bearers who had carried him." He paused for a moment--his mind back in the Land over the Water. "There are thousands like him," he went on thoughtfully, "and over there, you see, nothing much matters. A man, whether he's a duke or a dustman, is judged on his merits in the regimental family. Everyone is equally happy, or equally unhappy--because everyone's goal is the same." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ A silence settled on the smoking-room, a silence broken at last by the opening and shutting of the door. Sir John had retired for the night. . . .
At the moment that Vane paused at the entrance to his bit of fairyland Sir John was in full blast.
"What, sir, is the good of educating these people? Stuffing their heads with a lot of useless nonsense. And then talking about land nationalisation. The two don't go together, sir. If you educate a man he's not going to go and sit down on a bare field and look for worms. . . ." He paused in his peroration as he caught sight of Vane. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ How could it be otherwise? It's when you get a man trying to kick the ball through the wrong goal--and succeeding--that the trouble comes."
"Quite right," agreed Vane. "Personally I'm trying to find out what my own goal is." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ Even Sir John has deserted me." As he spoke he was wondering what her age was. Somewhere about twenty-two he decided, and about ten more in experience.
"For which relief much thanks, I suppose?"
"One shouldn't look a gift host in the stockings," returned Vane lightly. "I think it's very charming of him and his wife to have us here."
"Do you? It's hopelessly unfashionable not to do war work of some sort, and this suits them down to the ground. . . . Why the Queen visited Rumfold the other day and congratulated Lady Patterdale on her magnificent arrangements." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Herman Cyril McNeile, Mufti — Chapter 5 (1919)

“ His last words as he went down for the third time were 'Johnson, carry on.' . . . Of course it was kept out of the papers, but if it hadn't been for a Tank going by to get some whisky for the officers' mess, which, owing to its pressure on neighbouring ground squeezed them all out again one by one--you know, just like you squeeze orange pips from your fingers--the affair might have been serious. ”

Herman Cyril McNeile

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