Three Men and a Maid

Three Men and a Maid

By

4.5
(4 Reviews)

Published:

1921

Pages:

381

Downloads:

6,448

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Three Men and a Maid

By

4.5
(4 Reviews)
The maid of the title is red-haired, dog-loving Wilhelmina "Billie" Bennet, and the three men are Bream Mortimer, a long-time friend and admirer of Billie, Eustace Hignett, a lily-livered poet who is engaged to Billie at the opening of the tale, and Sam Marlowe, Eustace's dashing cousin, who falls for Billie at first sight. All four find themselves on an ocean liner headed for England together, along with a capable young woman called Jane Hubbard who is smitten with Eustace, and typically Wodehousian romantic shenanigans ensue. --Wikipedia

Book Excerpt

curtly. "I have no doubt that there are many things which you do not do. Let us confine ourselves to issues of definite importance. What is it, if you have no objection to concentrating your attention on that for a moment, that you wish to see me about?"

"This marriage."

"What marriage?"

"Your son's marriage."

"My son is not married."

"No, but he's going to be. At eleven o'clock this morning at the Little Church Round the Corner!"

Mrs. Hignett stared.

"Are you mad?"

"Well, I'm not any too well pleased, I'm bound to say," admitted Mr. Mortimer. "You see, darn it all, I'm in love with the girl myself!"

"Who is this girl?"

"Have been for years. I'm one of those silent, patient fellows who hang around and look a lot, but never tell their love...."

"Who is this girl who has entrapped my son?"

"I've always been one of those men who...."

"Mr. Mortimer! With your permission we will take your positive qualities, also, for grante

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(1921) Humor (Romantic comedy / Romance)


Also published as 'The Girl on the Boat' in 1922.


R: * * * * *


Plot bullets

We have a pretty young girl (the maid), Wilhelmina, or Billie to her friends.
We have her almost husband, Eustace, (he didn't make it to the Church on time, since his mother hid his pants.)
We have Sam, Eustace's cousin, who falls in love with Billie, but can't seem to hold up to her idea of a Knight in shining armor.
We have a long time suitor, Bream, who certainly isn't the right man, except in Billie's fathers eyes.
Put them all together on a boat and later in a country house, and well, you get the idea.
Sam tries very hard to win Billie and conceives and executes some very deceitful schemes. You know, that thing about love and war.
Did I forget to mention Jane, the girl that loves Eustace, and on occasion, wields an Elephant gun?
But, the real question is: Can a man trapped in a helmet from a suit of armor, be considered a Knight in shining armor and win the girl.

This is the same book as "The Girl on the Boat", just under a different title. If you like good romantic comedies, you'll love this!
Red-headed Miss Wilhelmina Bennett is looking for a perfect knight, but neither Eustace Hignett nor Bream Mortimer fill the bill. Sam Marlowe uses various subterfuges to convince the fussy young lady that he's the hero of her dreams.

Full of typical Wodehouse hijinks, it's a fun, fast read -- not up to the Jeeves series, but certainly worth a once-through.

This is a must read in Wodehouse series. The plot is
simply superb and makes the reader cry out of laughter.