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?