The Wasp, 1913 · page 337 of 364
The Wasp — 1913 — page 337: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains no visible cartoon—it's prose fiction, likely serialized narrative content from the magazine. The text depicts a dramatic domestic scene: a woman (Willis's wife) has received diamonds from a man named James Burnham and is in distress over their implication. When Burnham visits to congratulate Willis on his marriage, his cryptic remarks about admiring Willis's wife in Nevis and his emotional farewell suggest a past romantic entanglement. The satire appears to target Victorian social hypocrisy—the gentleman's polite facade masks an inappropriate prior relationship. Burnham's affected sentimentality ("growing old...a sentimentalist") performs respectability while the diamonds' metaphorical "burning" reveals the wife's guilt and anxiety. The piece likely satirizes genteel society's ability to conduct scandalous affairs while maintaining outward propriety. The specific historical references (Nevis, frigate) remain unclear without additional context.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
330 THE WASP The six diamonds which James had given her seemed to burn into the flesh of her breast like bits of red-hot iron. There in the soft dark she covered her face with her hands and breathed a frenzied prayer for mercy. Willis opened the door, all unconscious of his wife’s agony of apprehension. On the threshold stood James Burnham, gorgeously attired, with one of the servants of the inn at his elbow holding two candles in silver sticks. He bowed and extended his hand to the surgeon. Willis took it. “T have only now heard of your happiness, Bob,” said James. “I am sailing to-morrow, and so hastened here to congratulate you. You and I were good friends, Bob!” “Yes,” replied Willis awkwardly, remembering the rumors he had heard aboard the frigate. “Yes, Jim. Indeed, you are very kind.” “Give my most respectful regards to your wife, lad,” said James. “I admired her greatly in Nevis. I am growing old, Bob—and something of a sen- timentalist, I fear. Your hand again, lad. Good night and good-by!” Comichooks.com