Freddie Widgeon goes to Bramley-on-Sea to be near Mavis Peasmarch and her father and cadges an invitation to stay with Mr and Mrs Bingo Little who have taken a 'shack' there with their kid. One day on the beach Freddie gives a substantial blonde the time. A few days later, he sees her being chased by an elderly man. She jumps into his car but the man grabs her and threatens Freddie. Just then Mavis appears and gets the wrong idea ...
| Freddie Widgeon | a young man |
| Mavis Peasmarch | a young woman, quick at conclusions |
| Rev. Aubrey Upjohn | a headmaster |
| Bingo Little | Freddie's friend |
| a substantial blonde |
First published 28 October 1939 in the Saturday Evening Post (US).
Also published December 1940 in the Strand magazine.
'... bring the blush of shame to the cheek of modesty ...'
- a phrase from Gilbert and Sullivan's 1881 operetta Patience.
Sir Galahad
- the perfect Knight of the Round Table, the epitome of innocence and chivalry.
Drysalter
- or dry-salter, a dealer in dyes, gums, oils, pickles, tinned meats etc.
Adagio dancer
- one who dances acrobatically to slow music.
E. Phillips Oppenheim
- (1866-1946) a prolific writer of thrillers.
Simon Legree
- the cruel slave master in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Captain Bligh
- naval captain of the Bounty, whose crew mutinied against his (alleged) harsh treatment and cruelty. The story was made into at least two films.
'... when a headmaster has got his teeth into ...'
- when he has devoted himself seriously to.
'... bring the old malacca down on his upturned trouser seat.'
- a malacca cane is a rich-brown cane from the stem of the palm tree Calamus sciponium, used for walking sticks.
Overture to Zampa
- Zampa is an opera by Louis Joseph Ferdinand Hérald.
Bucko
- a swaggering, domineering person (nautical slang).
'Bingo hopped like the high hills.'
- probably based on Psalm 68: Verse 16.
'Kind hearts are more than coronets and simple faith more than Norman blood.'
- Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Lady Clara Vere de Vere.