Girl (Henry)
Short Summary
New York City, early 20th century. Hartley, a broker, hired a detective to find Vivienne Arlington's address. He visited her in a flathouse, where he proposed she come work for him in the suburbs.
Vivienne hesitated, torn between city life and suburban comfort. When Rafford Townsend arrived, Hartley sent him away, claiming Vivienne as his 'kill'. Vivienne agreed to come work for Hartley, but only if he dismissed Hloise first. Hartley promised to do so that night.
Hartley returned home to Floralhurst, where he was greeted by his wife. He whispered news to her, causing her to scream with joy.
"Oh, mamma!" she cried ecstatically, "what do you think? Vivienne is coming to cook for us! She is the one that stayed with the Montgomerys a whole year."
The story concluded with Hartley's wife instructing him to discharge Hloise, who had been drunk all day. It was revealed that Hartley had been seeking a new cook for his household all along, not a romantic interest.
Detailed Summary
The division of the summary into chapters is conditional.
The Broker's Quest
In the office of Robbins & Hartley, Brokers, Hartley received information from a detective about the address of a girl named Vivienne Arlington. After dismissing the detective, Hartley left the office and traveled to East --th Street, where he found the Vallambrosa apartment building.
Hartley climbed to the fourth floor, where he found Vivienne standing in an open door. She invited him inside and they began to talk.
Vivienne was about twenty-one. She was of the purest Saxon type. Her hair was a ruddy golden, each filament of the neatly gathered mass shining with its own lustre and delicate graduation of colour.
The Proposal and Rival
Hartley pleaded with Vivienne to accept his offer, promising her a comfortable life in the suburbs with frequent visits to the city. Vivienne expressed her doubts about leaving city life.
"Mr. Hartley," she said hesitatingly, "I hardly know what to say to you. I realize all the advantages of your offer, and sometimes I feel sure that I could be contented with you. But, again, I am doubtful."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of Rafford Townsend, Hartley's rival for Vivienne's attention. Hartley confronted Townsend in the hall, ordering him to leave.
"Go back," repeated Hartley, inflexibly. "The Law of the Jungle. Do you want the Pack to tear you in pieces? The kill is mine."
The Ultimatum and Promise
Returning to Vivienne, Hartley insisted on a definitive answer. Vivienne then revealed a surprising condition for her acceptance.
"Do you think for one moment," she said, "that I would enter your home while Hloise is there?"
Hartley, taken aback, agreed to send Hloise away that very night. Vivienne then promised to come to him when he was ready.
"She shall go," he declared grimly. Drops stood upon his brow. "Why should I let that woman make my life miserable? Never have I seen one day of freedom from trouble since I have known her."
The Surprising Revelation
Hartley returned to his home in Floralhurst, where he was greeted by his wife. He whispered something in her ear, causing her to scream with joy. His wife's mother was also present.
It was revealed that Vivienne was coming to cook for them, and she had previously worked for the Montgomerys for a year. Hartley's wife then instructed him to go to the kitchen and discharge Hloise, who had been drunk all day.
The story concluded with the revelation that Hartley's pursuit of Vivienne was not for romantic reasons, but to hire her as a cook for his household, replacing the troublesome Hloise.