The Wasp, 1918 · page 124 of 330
The Wasp — 1918 — page 124: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This page contains dialogue from what appears to be a serialized Victorian or Edwardian novel, not a political cartoon. The text depicts an emotional confrontation between a man named James (or Burnham) and a woman he addresses as "kitten" and "puss." The scene involves romantic rivalry and manipulation: James claims he sacrificed a respectable life (a parsonage position) for this woman, and now confronts her about her affection for another man named Percy Stanton. James holds her hand against her resistance while emphasizing his devotion and questioning Stanton's worthiness and courage. The narrative explores themes of masculine possessiveness, class anxiety (the lost parsonage and inheritance), and female agency within romantic relationships. Without additional context about which novel this excerpts, specific character identification remains unclear.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
THE WASP 115 replied James. ‘‘ My dear little kitten, if I did not know you as well as I do, I might think that you were sorry to be here; but in the light of the past, my sweet puss, I cannot think that. You played a trick on me that few men would forgive in a lifetime; but I have forgiven you. I was always a fool about you, my dear ; and by Heaven, I still am! What .d’ye think of that for constancy? But for you, my beauty, I’d be a parson now, with tithes and rents, snug in Wantage vicarage and the odour of sanctity, and with my name still intact in my father’s will. | That’s the truth, my dear, as well you know. And here I am still a fool and ready to break myself again for you. Would Stanton do or dare as much for you? Not he!” He caught one of her hands, and though she made a quick, brief effort to withdraw it, he held it tight. She trembled and kept her face averted. ** Percy would venture anything for me,” she said.. “Heloves me. He will pay me, come what may of it!” ~ * Not he, the slugeich sot,” sneered Burnham. “Marry you? It may be so; but you'll get lean cheer of that. The fellow is a coward. When his precious parents take him in hand comiciooks.com