In old age, lust gets mellowed down and wisdom acquires a brighter shade of orange. Holding hands and physical contact gets relegated to the background. Instead, common ailments and related medications and therapies rule the roost. At times, the lining of the stomach paves the way for a couple to start sharing the trials and tribulations of life together. One of the stories where P G Wodehouse puts this across succinctly is the one titled ‘Indian Summer of an Uncle.’
Uncle George is unduly attached to the pleasures of the table. The lining of his stomach is no longer in a good shape. Twice a year, his liver lodges a formal protest and he goes off to Harrogate or Carlsbad for some rest and recuperation.
He is contemplating a matrimonial alliance with a much younger Miss Rhoda Platt who happens to be a waitress at his club. Jeeves is of the firm opinion that Uncle George is experiencing an Indian summer. This is how he sums up the situation to Bertie Wooster:
‘One must remember, however, that it is not unusual to find gentlemen of a certain age yielding to what might be described as a sentimental urge. They appear to experience what I may term a sort of Indian summer, a kind of temporarily renewed youth.’
Uncle George’s plans to saunter down the aisle with a girl from the lower middle classes face a serious glitch – that of a stout disapproval from Aunt Agatha. After all, family honor is at stake. She promptly gives a blank cheque to Bertie who is expected to rally around and pay off the girl so as to secure a ‘release’ for Uncle George.
The family remembers that years ago, long before this uncle came into the title, he had had a dash at a romantic alliance. The woman in question then had been a barmaid at the Criterion. Her name was Maudie. He loved her dearly, but the family would brook no such nonsense. Eventually, she was paid off and the family honor protected.
Enter Smethurst – Colonel Mainwaring-Smith’s personal gentleman’s gentleman. He happens to be in love with Rhoda, who has to make a choice between love and ambition. If Bertie succeeds in his mission to wean off Uncle George from the influence of the young woman, she would possibly refrain from permitting herself to be lured by gold and the glamour of Uncle George’s position. Such a state of affairs would be a consummation devoutly to be wished by Smethurst.
Bertie does call on the young woman but instead ends up meeting her jovial aunt. The aunt is a kind-hearted soul, but definitely of the people, what with her orange hair, the magenta dress and the verbose outlook on life. Her intention is to continue residing with her niece after the latter’s marriage.
Bertie’s nerve fails him and the matter is put in the hands of a higher power – that of Jeeves. His suggestion is to arrange a meeting between his lordship and the aged aunt. Once the two meet, this reflection might give his lordship pause.
Aunt Agatha takes a dim view of the proposal to arrange a lunch meeting of the two, thereby lowering the prestige of the clan by allowing menials to get above themselves. However, Bertie and Jeeves decide to proceed with their little act of doing good by stealth. However, Jeeves has a deeper purpose in mind – that of assisting Smethurst.
Bertie describes the meeting thus:
There was a stunned silence as he went in, and then a couple of startled yelps you hear when old buddies get together after long separation.
‘Piggy!’
‘Maudie!’
‘Well, I never!’
‘Well, I’m dashed!’
‘Did you ever!’
‘Well, bless my soul!’
‘Fancy you being Lord Yaxley!’
‘Came into the title soon after we parted.’
‘Just to think!’
‘You could have knocked me down with a feather!’
I hung about in the offing, now on this leg, now on that. For all the notice they took of me, I might just as well have been the late bw, disembodied.
‘Maudie, you don’t look a day older, dash it!’
‘Nor do you, Piggy.’
‘How have you been all these years?’
‘Pretty well. The lining of my stomach isn’t all it should be.’
‘Good Gad! You don’t say so? I have trouble with the lining of my stomach.’
‘It’s a sort of heavy feeling after meals.’
‘I get a sort of heavy feeling after the meals. What are you trying for it?’
‘I’hv been taking Perkins’ Digestine.’
‘My dear girl, no use! No use at all. Tried it myself for years and got no relief. Now, if you really want something that is some good –’
I slid away.
So, Uncle George and Aunt Maudie were like deep calling to deep. Between the sweet and cheese courses, their engagement gets announced.
Aunt Agatha is told that his lordship is going to get married to a Mrs Wilberforce. While she is trying to figure out which branch of the Wilberforce family the woman of sensible age belongs to, Bertie and Jeeves plan to quickly get off over the horizon to a place where men can be men. This appears to be the only way to avoid facing her fury when she learns of the lower middle class status of the future Lady Yaxley.
In most of his works, P G Wodehouse regales us with the topsy-turvy romances of couples who are invariably in the impressionable phases of their lives. The narrative in ‘Indian Summer of an Uncle’ (Very Good, Jeeves) somehow celebrates a seasoned romance. Gone are the impulsive break-offs linked to sharks, moustaches and beef puddings. Nor are we treated here to an impetuous affair kick-started by the heroine’s cat being saved by a chivalrous and dashing hero. Instead, we are allowed to bask in the soft glow and warmth of a long drawn out romance the embers of which get rekindled after several years – thanks to Jeeves and the lining of the stomach!
(In response to the fruity initiative of Plumtopia: http://honoriaplum.wordpress.com/2014/01/15/wodehouse-fans-needed-for-valentine-series-the-great-wodehouse-romances)
Related Posts:
This is lovely. Piggy and Maudie are one of my favourite romances. I love the fact that Wodehouse gave us romances for all ages, shapes and sizes – not to mention stomach linings. This will definitely be reblogged shortly in the Plum romances series. Thanks so much.
LikeLike
So very true. Even kids infatuated with movie stars go to great lengths to keep their romantic flames alive!
Thanks.
LikeLike
I love this! In some ways, this is perhaps the most romantic of Wodehouse’s love stories – the idea of two people finding each other again after a enforced and prolonged separation makes the resulting happy ending even more satisfying, imo.
LikeLike
Much obliged for your comment!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Plumtopia: The world of P.G. Wodehouse.
LikeLike
Wonderfully related! A compelling love story indeed. And it has just occurred to me that the “pal” bond that binds Bertie to so many old school chums so inexplicably, but for the old school tie, is alive and well between Jeeves and Smethurst as bondingly as Bertie’s upper crust links. I think the poet Burns had some line about this, or maybe it was A. Tennyson, or even old Pop Kipling. Some poet Johnnie, anyway.
LikeLike
If my memory cells are in good shape, even Shakespeare makes an appearance in this narrative. Bertie and Jeeves have already packed their bags to escape the fury of Aunt Agatha and Bertie remembers having drawn the picture at school of a bear chasing a hapless victim on the run!
Thanks for the pep up!
LikeLike
[…] Reblogged from ashokbhatia: […]
LikeLike
P G Wodehouse stories are subtly wonderful. Yes, with age our priority changes and changes towards mental engagement from physical grind. Good post…
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your warm comment.
You may like to check out this one as well: https://ashokbhatia.wordpress.com/2014/02/13/a-mature-shade-of-love-in-movies/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Reblogged this on ashokbhatia and commented:
Time to meet Piggy and Maudie again and wish them a long innings together!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on My Bookshelf.
LikeLike
Thanks for the honour!
LikeLike