Jeeves and the Yule-tide Spirit

"Jeeves and the Yule-tide Spirit" is a short story by P. G. Wodehouse. It was first published in the December 1927 edition of Strand Magazine and in the 24 December 1927 edition of Liberty, and saw its first book publication in Very Good, Jeeves in 1930.

Plot summary

On 16 December, Bertie Wooster receives an invitation to spend Christmas at Skeldings Hall, home of Bobbie Wickham and Lady Wickham. He informs his valet Jeeves of these plans, which are different from Bertie's original plans to go to Monte Carlo. Jeeves conceals his disappointment at the change in plans. Aunt Agatha telephones Bertie to inform him that Sir Roderick Glossop will also be at Skeldings, and she wishes Bertie to make a good impression on Sir Roderick. (Bertie had previously been engaged to Sir Roderick's daughter Honoria Glossop.)

On 23 December, Bertie and Jeeves drive to Skeldings Hall, where he is greeted cordially by Bobbie Wickham, Lady Wickham, and Sir Roderick Glossop.

On the morning of 24 December, Bertie reveals to Jeeves the three reasons that induced him to come to Skeldings. First, Bertie notes that there is not much yule-tide spirit in Monte Carlo, to which Jeeves replies "Does one desire the yule-tide spirit?" Second, Bertie is intent on getting revenge on Tuppy Glossop, who is also visiting Skeldings, for tricking Bertie into falling into the swimming-bath at the Drones Club, an incident that is mentioned in several other Jeeves stories. Finally, Bertie reveals that he is in love with Bobbie Wickham. Jeeves gives his opinion that Bobbie is frivolous and lacking in seriousness, and has a vivid shade of red hair, which he considers dangerous.

That evening, Bertie tells Jeeves that Bobbie Wickham has suggested an excellent way to revenge himself on Tuppy by sneaking into Tuppy's bedroom at night and puncturing Tuppy's hot-water bottle with a darning needle attached to a stick. Jeeves advises against this plan, but Bertie insists on Jeeves acquiring a stick with a darning needle attached. Jeeves informs Bertie that Tuppy is staying in the Moat Room.

At 2:30 in the morning, Bertie goes to the Moat Room with the stick and needle. In the darkened room, he successfully punctures the hot-water bottle. But, when the door slams and wakes the person sleeping there, Bertie realises that it is Sir Roderick Glossop, not Tuppy Glossop. Bertie tries to escape from the room, but his dressing gown catches on the door, and Sir Roderick catches him. Bertie explains that he was looking for Tuppy, and Sir Roderick tells Bertie that he had told Jeeves that he had switched rooms with Tuppy. Bertie is outraged that Jeeves knew that Sir Roderick was in the Moat Room and let Bertie go there anyway. Sir Roderick discovers the punctured hot-water bottle and is furious with Bertie. He goes to Bertie's room to spend the rest of the night, leaving his room to Bertie. Bertie spends the night in an armchair.

On Christmas morning, Bertie is awakened by Jeeves. "Merry Christmas, sir," says Jeeves. Bertie is angry with Jeeves for not letting Bertie know that Tuppy and Sir Roderick changed rooms. Jeeves replies that he was trying to help Bertie. Aunt Agatha had been scheming to get Sir Roderick to think more favourably of Bertie, so that Sir Roderick would allow Bertie to marry Honoria. Bertie is aghast at the possibility, and thanks Jeeves for his help.

Then Bertie wonders if Sir Roderick might simply forgive him, since it is Christmas. Jeeves replies that it is unlikely, because while Sir Roderick was spending the night in Bertie's room, someone came in and punctured his hot-water bottle. Bertie is mystified about who could have done this, but Jeeves reports that Tuppy did it. Bertie is astonished that Tuppy had the same idea that Bobbie Wickham had. However, Jeeves explains that Bobbie Wickham suggested the same thing to Tuppy as she did to Bertie. Bertie shudders to think that he might have been in love with Bobbie. "Love is dead," he tells Jeeves.

To avoid unpleasantness, Jeeves advises Bertie to leave the house and travel to Monte Carlo. Bertie points out that Jeeves cancelled the reservations to Monte Carlo. Jeeves confesses that he never did cancel the reservations after all. The story ends with them planning to go to Monte Carlo as they originally intended.

Literary and Biblical Allusions

Wodehouse invariably has Bertie Wooster using – or misusing – many literary and Biblical allusions. In this short story, Bertie makes these references:

External links

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