| align = center
| align = center
| File:The lady of the barge – Frontispiece.png
| File:The lady of the barge – Frontispiece.png
|<center>HE DENIED IT AGAIN, HOTLY.</center>
|centerHE DENIED IT AGAIN, HOTLY.
| File:The lady of the barge – You villain she said, in a choking voice.png
| File:The lady of the barge – You villain she said, in a choking voice.png
|<center>“YOU VILLAIN!” SHE SAID, IN A CHOKING VOICE.</center>
|center”YOU VILLAIN!” SHE SAID, IN A CHOKING VOICE.
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1900 short story by W. W. Jacobs
“The Lady of the Barge” is a comedic short story by W. W. Jacobs. It was originally published in the August 1900 issue of Harper’s Magazine.[1] It was later collected in Jacobs’ short story collection of the same name. It follows Ted, a mate to Captain John Gibbs inviting a woman aboard John’s barge.
John Gibbs, the captain of the Arabella, is winding down from an argument relating to religion when Ted, his mate and brother-in-law, hops aboard. Ted wants to take Lucy Harris on a ride aboard the barge. Although John is skeptical about the passenger, since he doesn’t normally carry them, he reluctantly lets her on. As the trip unfolds, Lucy takes a liking to John, to Ted’s dismay.
When John goes to finally dock in Coalsham, seeing his wife Louisa before him, he attempts to hide Lucy in the forecastle. This fails, and Louisa gets in an argument with Lucy, mistaking her presence as that her husband cheated on her. This leads to Lucy throwing her purse into the water. Ted jumps into retrieve it. John, thinking he’s drowning, jumps in to save him. When they are pulled ashore by the two ladies, their foolishness is recognized by the two women as they walk away and get breakfast.
Illustrations were painted by Maurice Greiffenhagen for the collection of the same name. These illustrations and subsequent ones only appear in the first edition.
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HE DENIED IT AGAIN, HOTLY.
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“YOU VILLAIN!” SHE SAID, IN A CHOKING VOICE.