Summary
In a meticulously crafted comedic deception, the financially precarious Charles Shackleton finds himself ensnared in a web of his own making. Desperate to secure an increase in his allowance from his affluent, traditional uncle, Charles fabricates a marriage, a necessity dictated by his uncle’s insistence on a settled, married life. After his genuine proposal to Lucy Norton is rebuffed by her disapproving father, Charles brazenly informs his uncle of his fictional nuptials. The charade escalates dramatically when the uncle announces an impending visit, compelling Charles to frantically enlist Jane, his resourceful housemaid, to impersonate his wife for a hefty sum. Unbeknownst to Charles, Jane is secretly married to William, the fastidious butler, whose mounting confusion and visceral jealousy become a central pillar of the ensuing farce. The comedic tension reaches its zenith when the uncle demands to see the couple's 'baby,' prompting Jane to spontaneously 'borrow' an infant from an unsuspecting washerwoman, leading to a ludicrous confrontation with the police and further unraveling of the intricate lie. The convoluted narrative culminates in Charles's earnest, if belated, proposal to Lucy, finally clearing the air and allowing truth to emerge from the delightful chaos, leaving all parties unexpectedly, and rather fortuitously, content.
Synopsis
To obtain an increase in his income from his wealthy uncle, Charles Shackleton must stop his wild bachelor ways and marry. Charles proposes to Lucy Norton, but her father refuses his permission. Undaunted, Charles tells his uncle he has married and receives his increased allowance. A year later the uncle announces an upcoming visit, and Charles begins a frantic search for a temporary wife, offering Jane, the maid, five hundred dollars to play the part of Mrs. Shackleton. Secretly married to William, the butler, Jane undertakes the role without her husband's knowledge, causing him much confusion and jealousy. When the uncle demands to see "the baby," Jane snatches one from an unsuspecting washerwoman, who later catches the uncle with her child and calls the police on him. Further complications lead to Charles' pleading proposal to Lucy and then finally to the truth, which leaves everyone satisfied.
