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Blandings - the logo of www.blandings.org.uk, the Companion to the works of P G Wodehouse

An Afternoon Dip

A short school story

Locksley school on the hottest day on record. Far too hot for French dictation, so Jackson decides to sneak out of class for a dip in the pond. Getting out is easy ...

Characters

M. GautierFrench master
Jacksona fifth form boy
Mr Knighta master
Royceanother boy
Mr Fergusonanother master

Publishing Information

Tales of Wrykyn and Elsewhere

First published September 1904 in Pearson's (UK).

Re-published as Jackson's Dip in the Greyfriars Holiday Annual 1925. (See discussion on this and whether 'Locksley' is really Wrykyn college.)

Notes and Quotes

Erckmann-Chatrian's L'Invasion
- two French authors, Émile Erckmann and Alexandre Chatrian, working together. Their many books include L'Invasion or The Invasion of France in 1814, first published in 1862 and still being printed.

'... Robin Hood-cum-Fenimore-Cooper's Indian daredevilry; ...'
- Mr Fennimore Cooper wrote The Last of the Mohicans, featuring Chingachgook the Indian. Presumably both he and Robin Hood were good at daredevilry in the undergrowth.

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Why anyone would choose to republish this I don't know - the ending is more a drip than a splash.

See also the page on public schools for general information on life at Locksley.