
Transcriber's Note:
FIVE O'CLOCK TEA
Copyright, 1894, by Harper & Brothers. Copyright, 1885, by Harper & Brothers. Copyright, 1885, by W. D. Howells. All rights reserved.
ILLUSTRATIONS
FIVE O'CLOCK TEA - I MRS. SOMERS; MR. WILLIS CAMPBELL
II MR. BEMIS; MRS. SOMERS; MR. WILLIS CAMPBELL
III MR. and MRS. ROBERTS and the OTHERS
IV MRS. CURWEN and the OTHERS
V DR. LAWTON, MR. and MRS. MILLER, YOUNG MR. and MRS. BEMIS, and the OTHERS
VI MRS. CRASHAW and the OTHERS
In a sun‑dappled drawing‑room of a late‑Victorian house, the ever‑performing Amy Somers readies for her five‑o’clock tea. She practices gestures before a mirror, turning each pose into a playful dance of fan flicks and exaggerated grimaces, while the mysterious Mr. Willis Campbell watches from the landing, hat in hand. Their banter sparks with wit, as Somers teases him about darkness, gas lamps, and the ever‑uncertain number of guests.
The comedy unfolds as the two exchange rapid‑fire repartee, each line a gentle poke at social pretensions and the rituals of afternoon tea. Somers’ attempts to coax a cup of tea into the conversation become a battle of manners, while Campbell’s dry observations turn the ordinary into absurdity. As the clock ticks toward the arrival of a curious assortment of guests, the modest gathering threatens to spiral into a delightful tangle of miscommunications and far‑cical mishaps.
Language
en
Duration
~37 minutes (35K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2009-01-05
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1837–1920
A leading voice of American literary realism, he helped shape late 19th-century fiction through his novels, criticism, and editorial work. His writing often brings ordinary social life into sharp, lively focus, with a calm wit that still feels fresh.
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