Preface

LOVE AMONG THE CHICKENS

BY

P. G. WODEHOUSE

DEDICATION

TO W. TOWNEND

DEAR BILL,—

I have never been much of a lad for the

TO——-

But For Whose Sympathy and Encouragement

This Book

Would Never Have Been Written

type of dedication. It sounds so weak-minded. But in the case of Love Among the Chickens it is unavoidable. It was not so much that you sympathised and encouraged—where you really came out strong was that you gave me the stuff. I like people who sympathise with me. I am grateful to those who encourage me. But the man to whom I raise the Wodehouse hat—owing to the increased cost of living, the same old brown one I had last year—it is being complained of on all sides, but the public must bear it like men till the straw hat season comes round—I say, the man to whom I raise this venerable relic is the man who gives me the material.

Sixteen years ago, my William, when we were young and spritely lads; when you were a tricky centre-forward and I a fast bowler; when your head was covered with hair and my list of"Hobbies"in Who's Who included Boxing; I received from you one morning about thirty closely-written foolscap pages, giving me the details of your friend ——-'s adventures on his Devonshire chicken farm. Round these I wove as funny a plot as I could, but the book stands or falls by the stuff you gave me about"Ukridge"—the things that actually happened.

You will notice that I have practically re-written the book. The re was some pretty bad work in it, and it had"dated."As an instance of the way in which the march of modern civilisation has left the 1906 edition behind, I may mention that on page twenty-one I was able to make Ukridge speak of selling eggs at six for fivepence!

You rs ever,

P. G. WODEHOUSE

London, 1920.

CONTENTS

I

A LETTER WITH A POSTSCRIPT

II

MR. AND MRS. S. F. UKRIDGE

III

WATERLOO STATION, SOME FELLOW-TRAVELLERS, AND A GIRL WITH BROWN HAIR

IV

THE ARRIVAL

V

BUCKLING TO

VI

MR. GARNET'S NARRATIVE—HAS TO DO WITH A REUNION

VII

THE ENTENTE CORDIALE IS SEALED

VIII

A LITTLE DINNER AT UKRIDGE'S

IX

DIES IRAE

X

I ENLIST THE SERVICES OF A MINION

XI

THE BRAVE PRESERVER

XII

SOME EMOTIONS AND YELLOW LUPIN

XIII

TEA AND TENNIS

XIV

A COUNCIL OF WAR

XV

THE ARRIVAL OF NEMESIS

XVI

A CHANCE MEETING

XVII

OF A SENTIMENTAL NATURE

XVIII

UKRIDGE GIVES ME ADVICE

XIX

ASKING PAPA

XX

SCIENTIFIC GOLF

XXI

THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM

XXII

THE STORM BREAKS

XXIII

AFTER THE STORM

LOVE AMONG THE CHICKENS