THE INVISIBLE MANLESSON 5BY PRATYUSH
Herbert George
Wells
(1866-1946)
Herbert George Wells was born in 1866 in
Bromley, England into a family where there was
little money to spare; his father ran a small shop
and played cricket professionally and his mother
worked as a housekeeper. The family’s financial
situation meant that Wells had to work from the
age of fourteen to support himself through
education. His success at school won him a free
place to study at a college of science in London,
after which he became a science teacher. His
poor health made life difficult, though, and he
struggled to keep his full-time job while trying to
write in his spare time.
MAIN EVENTS OF CHAPTER 5
Mrs. Bunting, the vicar’s wife, wakes up at
the sound of bare feet walking through her
house.
She wakes her husband and the two watch
and listen as a candle is lit and papers are
rustled in the study.
When they hear the telltale clink of money,
Rev. Bunting rushes into the study with a
raised poker, but the room appears to be
empty.
Their money disappears and at one point
they hear a sneeze in the hallway but are
unable to locate or see the intruder.
NOTES
Due to the necessity of running about naked, Griffin has
caught a cold, which he is unable to completely hide. His
sneezes begin to give him away even though people don’t
yet understand what they are hearing. In robbing the
Buntings, Griffin also sets himself up for accusations and
criminal charges. Thus when his presence is discovered, it
is inevitable that people will begin to expect the worst and
will be concentrating on apprehending him rather than
helping him.
.
GLOSSARY
Burglary : Theft
Fumbling : Movement of hands
Poker : Metal rod with handle
Rustle : Crackling sound
Imprecations : Spoken curse
Chink : Ringing sound
Impulse : Desire
.
Peered : Looked into
Scuttle : metal container to store coal for
fire
Scullery : small kitchen
Cellar: store
Marvelling :wondering
QUESTIONS
Why didn’t Mrs. Bunting arouse her husband
in the beginning?
Write briefly about the burglary incident?