The Lull

When an exhausted parliamentary candidate arrives at a country house for a peaceful weekend away from election pressures, his hostess is determined to shield him from every mention of politics. But tranquility proves elusive when a dramatic midnight emergency erupts, bringing floods, stranded villagers, rescued Boy Scouts, and an assortment of unruly farm animals into his bedroom. In this sparkling comic tale, Saki transforms an ordinary country-house visit into a masterpiece of escalating absurdity. Through deadpan dialogue, elaborate deception, and perfectly timed social satire, the story explores gullibility, youthful mischief, and the fragile boundary between reason and imagination. Every new development pushes the bewildered guest deeper into a crisis that seems increasingly impossible to question. Blending humor, rural English society, practical jokes, and character-driven comedy, The Lull showcases Saki’s gift for exposing human vanity and credulity through seemingly harmless amusement. Readers who enjoy witty short fiction, Edwardian satire, country-house stories, and clever comedic twists will find themselves thoroughly entertained by this memorable tale of one very restless night.