The Stampeding of Lady Bastable
The narrative revolves around a young boy named Clovis, who is sent to stay with Lady Bastable while his mother, Mrs. Sangrail, visits friends. Lady Bastable is wary of Clovis, having experienced his mischievous behavior in the past. Despite her reluctance, Mrs. Sangrail persuades her to accept Clovis by offering to cancel a small debt from a bridge game, which Lady Bastable values highly. Once Clovis arrives, he is displeased with the arrangement, as he had wanted to teach the MacGregor boys a card game. Lady Bastable, meanwhile, is preoccupied with her belief that a social upheaval is imminent. Seizing an opportunity for mischief, Clovis concocts a false alarm about a "jacquerie," leading the household staff into a panic. He runs through the house, causing chaos, and the servants, believing they are under attack, follow him in a frenzy. Lady Bastable, caught off guard, joins the fray and escapes through the French window, abandoning her dignity. The ensuing chaos leaves both her and the staff embarrassed, but they eventually return to a semblance of normalcy by lunchtime. The meal is served with an air of formality, contrasting sharply with the earlier turmoil. In the end, Mrs. Sangrail receives a cheque for the bridge debt, and Clovis successfully teaches the MacGregor boys the card game he desired, highlighting his cunning and the absurdity of the situation. The story concludes with a sense of irony, as Clovis's antics lead to both his mother's relief and Lady Bastable's dismay.
By Saki · First published 1910 · Genre: Comedy, Social Satire, Short Story · 1,276 words
First lines
"It would be rather nice if you would put Clovis up for another six days while I go up north to the MacGregors'," said Mrs. Sangrail sleepily across the breakfast-table. It was her invariable plan to speak in a sleepy, comfortable voice whenever she was unusually keen about anything; it put people off their guard, and they frequently fell in with her wishes before they had realized that she was really asking for anything. Lady Bastable, however, was not so easily taken unawares; possibly she knew that voice and what it betokened -- at any rate, she knew Clovis.
What this Textopian page supports
The Stampeding of Lady Bastable is listed on Textopian as a short story by Saki, dated 1910 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Saki
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Comedy, Social Satire, Short Story, Fiction, Literary Fiction
- Length: 1,276 words
- Structure: 1 section, 15 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Stampeding of Lady Bastable by Saki
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Stampeding of Lady Bastable?
- How does this short story by Saki fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Comedy first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Comedy — The story employs humor and satire, particularly through the character of Clovis and the absurd situations he creates.
- Social Satire — The narrative critiques social norms and behaviors, particularly the dynamics of upper-class society and parental relationships.
- Short Story — The work is a concise narrative that encapsulates a complete story within a limited word count.
- Fiction — The story is a work of fiction, presenting imagined characters and events.
Tags
satire · humor · society · class · Victorian · irony · absurdity · character study · social commentary · wit · narrative · short story