Xingu (Or The Lunch Club): Chapter Three

In this short novella by Edith Wharton, we are treated to a hilarious vignette of a New York ladies' Lunch Club in the early 1920s. In Chapter Three, the group tries (and fails) to cope with the severe persona of their guest of honor, Osric Dane. It is the group's least popular member, Mrs Roby, who rather surprisingly comes to their rescue.

If you enjoy Edith Wharton's writing, 'His Father's Son' is also available on Premium Tracks.

Transcript

Hello,

It's Mandy here.

Thanks for joining me tonight.

Welcome back to Jingu by Edith Wharton.

In Edith's time,

Her family weren't keen on her name appearing in print.

Having said that,

In 1878,

Her father arranged for a collection of two dozen of her original poems and five translations to be privately published.

Between 1880 and 1890,

Wharton put her writing aside to participate in the social rituals of the New York upper classes.

She keenly observed the social changes that were happening around her and later used them in her writing.

So we've reached part three of Jingu and before I go ahead,

Please feel free to make yourself really comfortable.

Settle down into your chair or your bed.

Relax your hands,

Drop your shoulders and loosen your jaw.

That's great.

So if you're ready,

Then I shall begin.

Chapter three.

Osric Dane received the homage of the smile as a matter of course,

But the accompanying question obviously embarrassed her and it became clear to her observers that she was not quick at shifting her facial scenery.

It was as though her countenance had so long been set in an expression of unchallenged superiority that the muscles had stiffened and refused to obey her orders.

Jingu,

She said,

As if seeking in her turn to gain time.

Mrs Robie continued to press her.

Knowing how engrossing the subject is,

You will understand how it happens that the club has let everything else go to the wall for the moment.

Since we took up Jingu,

I might almost say,

Were it not for your books that nothing else seems to us worth remembering.

Osric Dane's stern features were darkened rather than lit up by an uneasy smile.

I'm glad to hear that you make one exception,

She gave out between narrowed lips.

Oh,

Of course,

Mrs Robie said prettily.

But as you have shown us that so very naturally you don't care to talk of your own things,

We really can't let you off from telling us exactly what you think about Jingu.

Especially,

She added,

With a still more persuasive smile,

As some people say that one of your last books was saturated with it.

It was an it then.

The assurance sped like fire through the parched minds of the other members.

In their eagerness to gain the least little clue to Jingu,

They almost forgot the joy of assisting at the discomfiture of Mrs Dane.

The latter reddened nervously under her antagonist's challenge.

May I ask,

She faltered out,

To which of my books you refer?

Mrs Robie did not falter.

That's just what I want you to tell us,

Because although I was present,

I didn't actually take part.

Present at what?

Mrs Dane took her up,

And for an instant the trembling members of the lunch club thought that the champion Providence had raised up for them had lost a point.

But Mrs Robie explained herself gaily,

At the discussion of course,

And so we're dreadfully anxious to know just how it was that you went into the Jingu.

There was a portentous pause,

A silence so big with incalculable dangers,

That the members with one accord checked the words on their lips,

Like soldiers dropping their arms to watch a single combat between their leaders.

Then Mrs Dane gave expression to their inmost dread by saying sharply,

Ah,

You say THE Jingu,

Do you?

Mrs Robie smiled undauntedly.

It is a shade pedantic,

Isn't it?

Personally,

I always drop the article,

But I don't know how the other members feel about it.

The other members looked as though they would willingly have dispensed with this appeal to their opinion,

And Mrs Robie,

After a bright glance around the group,

Went on.

They probably think,

As I do,

That nothing really matters except the thing itself,

Except Jingu.

No immediate reply seemed to occur to Mrs Dane,

And Mrs Ballinger gathered courage to say,

Surely everyone must feel that about Jingu.

Mrs Plinth came to her support with a heavy murmur of assent,

And Laura Glide sighed out emotionally,

I have known cases where it has changed a whole life.

It has done me worlds of good,

Mrs Leverett interjected,

Seeming to herself to remember that she had either taken it or read it the winter before.

Of course,

Mrs Robie admitted,

The difficulty is that one must give up so much time to it.

It's very long.

I can't imagine,

Said Miss Van Vleuk,

Grudging the time given to such a subject.

And deep in places,

Mrs Robie pursued,

So then it was a book,

And it isn't easy to skip.

I never skip,

Said Mrs Plinth dogmatically.

Ah,

It's dangerous too in Jingu.

Even at the start,

There are places where one can't.

One must just wade through.

I should hardly call it wading,

Said Mrs Ballinger sarcastically.

Mrs Robie sent her a look of interest.

Ah,

You always found it went swimmingly.

Mrs Ballinger hesitated.

Of course,

There are difficult passages,

She conceded.

Yes,

Some are not at all clear.

Even,

Mrs Robie added,

If one is familiar with the original.

As I suppose you are,

Osric Dane interposed,

Suddenly fixing her with a look of challenge.

Mrs Robie met it by a deprecating gesture.

Oh,

It's really not difficult up to a certain point,

Though some of the branches are very little known,

And it's almost impossible to get at the source.

Have you ever tried,

Mrs Plinth inquired,

Still distrustful of Mrs Robie's thoroughness.

Mrs Robie was silent for a moment,

Then she replied with lowered lids.

No,

But a friend of mine did,

A very brilliant man,

And he told me it was best for women not to.

A shudder ran around the room.

Mrs Leverett coughed so that the parlour maid who was handing the cigarettes should not hear.

Miss Van Vleek's face took on a nauseated expression,

And Mrs Plinth looked as if she were passing someone she did not care to bow to.

But the most remarkable result of Mrs Robie's words was the effect they produced on the lunch club's distinguished guest.

Osric Dane's impassive features suddenly softened to an expression of the warmest human sympathy,

And edging her chair toward Mrs Robie's,

She asked,

Did he really,

And did you find he was right?

Mrs Ballinger,

In whom annoyance at Mrs Robie's unwanted assumption of prominence,

Was beginning to displace gratitude for the aid she had rendered,

Could not consent to her being allowed by such dubious means to monopolise the attention of their guest.

If Osric Dane had not enough self-respect to resent Mrs Robie's flippancy,

At least the lunch club would do so in the person of its president.

Mrs Ballinger laid her hand on Mrs Robie's arm.

We must not forget,

She said with a frigid amiability,

That absorbing as Jingo is to us,

It may be less interesting to,

Oh no,

On the contrary,

I assure you,

Osric Dane intervened.

To others,

Mrs Ballinger finished firmly,

And we must not allow our little meeting to end without persuading Mrs Dane to say a few words to us on a subject which today is much more present in all our thoughts.

I refer,

Of course,

To the wings of death.

The other members,

Animated by various degrees of the same sentiment,

And encouraged by the mien of their redoubtable guest,

Repeated after Mrs Ballinger,

Oh yes,

You really must talk to us a little about your book.

Osric Dane's expression became as bored,

Though not as haughty,

As when her work had been previously mentioned.

But before she could respond to Mrs Ballinger's request,

Mrs Robie had risen from her seat and was pulling down her veil over her frivolous nose.

I'm so sorry,

She said,

Advancing toward her hostess with outstretched hand,

But before Mrs Dane begins,

I think I'd better run away.

And luckily,

As you know,

I haven't read her books,

So I should be at a terrible disadvantage among you all.

And besides,

I've an engagement to play bridge.

If Mrs Robie had simply pleaded her ignorance of Osric Dane's works as a reason for withdrawing,

The lunch club,

In view of her recent prowess,

Might have approved such evidence of discretion.

But to couple this excuse with the brazen announcement that she was forgoing the privilege for the purpose of joining a bridge party was only one more instance of her deplorable lack of discrimination.

The ladies were disposed,

However,

To feel that her departure,

Now that she'd performed the sole service she was ever likely to render them,

Would probably make for greater order and dignity in the impending discussion,

Besides relieving them of the sense of self-distrust which her presence always mysteriously produced.

Mrs Ballinger therefore restricted herself to a formal murmur of regret,

And the other members were just grouping themselves comfortably about Osric Dane,

When the latter,

To their dismay,

Started up from the sofa on which she had been seated.

Oh wait,

Do wait,

And I'll go with you,

She called out to Mrs Robie,

And seizing the hands of the disconcerted members,

She administered a series of farewell pressures with the mechanical haste of a railway conductor punching tickets.

I'm so sorry,

I'd quite forgotten,

She flung back at them from the threshold,

And as she joined Mrs Robie,

Who had turned in surprise at her appeal,

The other ladies had the mortification of hearing her say,

In a voice which she did not take the pains to lower,

If you'll let me walk a little way with you,

I should so like to ask you a few more questions about Jingu,

To be continued.

Reviews

Oh my goodness this story is such fun and this third chapter so funny. I never knew Wharton was such a great satirist. Thank you Mandy for introducing us to it.

Love how the tables are turning! Things are getting increasingly interesting (as well as hilarious). Thanks Mandy 🙏🏻

Hi Mandy! Thank you for your reading of this story. I keep falling asleep, so I have yet to hear if Xingu is ever defined! I’m going to try again. 🙏🏻😊💕

Oh such a wonderful story and listening to read is such a gift. It’s all so funny to me listening but knowing it was part of society at the time is an education. Thanks ever so much. I leave laughing in my heart ❤️

I can hear the gasps and see the eye rolls lol. Thanks Mandy 🙏❤️