W. W. Jacobs

Name: The Head of the Family
Author: W. W. Jacobs

The Head of the Family

Summary

“The Head of the Family”, is a work by W. W. Jacobs. It explores elements such as Letts, Green and Widden.

Quotes from The Head of the Family (W. W. Jacobs)

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ Mr. Widden could have supplied her with many reasons, but he refrained, and sat in sulky silence while Mr. Letts got ready. From his point of view the experiment was by no means a success, his efforts to be natural being met with amazed glances from Mr. Letts and disdainful requests from Miss Foster to go home if he couldn't behave himself. When he relapsed into moody silence Mr. Letts cleared his throat and spoke.
"There's no need to be like a monkey-on-a-stick, and at the same time there's no need to be sulky," he pointed out; "there's a happy medium." ”

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Source: Gutenberg

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ Green and a reassuring squeeze with his left arm, turned an attentive ear.
"O' course, there's a difficulty," he said, slowly, as Mr. Green finished a vivid picture of the joys of carpentering in Australia.
"Difficulty?" said the other.
"Money to start with," explained Mr. Letts. "It's no good starting without money. I wonder how much this house and furniture would fetch? Is it all mine, mother?"
"M-m-most of it," stammered Mrs. Green, gazing in a fascinated fashion at the contorted visage of her husband.
"All except a chair in the kitchen and three stair-rods," said Betty. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ Green.
Mr. Widden nodded. "Tuesday evening he showed her how he upset a man once and stood him on his head," he said, irritably. "I was what he showed her with."
"Stick to it!" counselled Mr. Green again. "A brother and sister are bound to get tired of each other before long; it's nature."
Mr. Widden sighed and obeyed. But brother and sister showed no signs of tiring of each other's company, while they displayed unmistakable signs of weariness with his. And three weeks later Mr. Letts, in a few well-chosen words, kindly but firmly dismissed him. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ Green called him in.
"My friend, Mr. Widden," he said, with a satisfied air, as he pointed to a slight, fair young man with a well-trimmed moustache.
Mr. Letts shook hands.
"Fine day," said Mr. Widden.
"Beautiful," said the other. "I'll come in and have a talk about it when I've had a wash."
"Me and Miss Foster are going out for a bit of a stroll," said Mr. Widden.
"Quite right," agreed Mr. Letts. "Much more healthy than staying indoors all the evening. If you just wait while I have a wash and a bit o' something to eat I'll come with you." ”

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Source: Gutenberg

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ He put his chest up at a seamen's lodging-house, and, by no means perturbed at this sudden change in his fortunes, sat on a seat overlooking the sea, with a cigarette between his lips, forming plans for his future. His eyes closed, and he opened them with a start to find that a middle-aged woman of pleasant but careworn appearance had taken the other end of the bench. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ Letts.
"We all thought so," pursued Mr. Green, grudgingly. "Everybody thought so."
He stood aside, as a short, hot-faced man, with a small bureau clasped in his arms and supported on his knees, emerged from the house and staggered towards the gate. Mr. Letts reflected.
"Halloa!" he said, suddenly. "Why, are you moving, mother?"
Mrs. Green sniffed sadly and shook her head. "Well," said Mr. Letts, with an admirable stare, "what's that chap doing with my furniture?"
"Eh?" spluttered Mr. Green. "What?"
"I say, what's he doing with my furniture?" repeated Mr. Letts, sternly. ”

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Source: Gutenberg

W. W. Jacobs, The Head of the Family

“ Letts; "but I don't think I shall go to sea any more. Ship's carpenter is my trade, and I've been told more than once that I should do better ashore. Besides, I don't want to lose mother and Betty again."
He placed his arm round the girl's waist, and, drawing her head on to his shoulder, met with a blank stare the troubled gaze of Mrs. Green.
"I'm told there's wonderful openings for carpenters in Australia," said Mr. Green, trying to speak in level tones. "Wonderful! A good carpenter can make a fortune there in ten years, so I'm told." ”

W. W. Jacobs

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