At Sunwich Port

Captain Nugent brings the heat of a shipping inquiry home to the sleepy English town of Sunwich. His certificate has been suspended for six months after a collision, and his faithful steward, Samson Wilks, bears the brunt of his temper. W. W. Jacobs sets this comic novel among harbour smells, narrow streets and a household where sympathy can irritate as much as criticism. The captain's exchanges with his widowed sister turn a serious professional setback into an awkward domestic scene.

Family relationships, betrothal and local gossip give the story its wider setting. In the middle excerpt, Wilks finds his cherished respectability under scrutiny as neighbours press him for information about the missing captain. Even a doctor's visit becomes an occasion for teasing and misunderstanding. Readers can enjoy the contrast between these characters' ideas of their own importance and the small humiliations of everyday life, carried through lively dialogue and sharply observed social encounters.