Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the unusual time of day for Mr. Maxwell to arrive at the office?
What is the unusual time of day for Mr. Maxwell to arrive at the office?
What is unique about the young lady secretary's dress?
What is unique about the young lady secretary's dress?
What is the occupant of Mr. Maxwell's table doing while Mr. Maxwell is there?
What is the occupant of Mr. Maxwell's table doing while Mr. Maxwell is there?
What does Pitcher allow his face to show in the morning?
What does Pitcher allow his face to show in the morning?
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Why does the young lady secretary wait instead of going straight to her workspace?
Why does the young lady secretary wait instead of going straight to her workspace?
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What is on the young lady secretary's black hat?
What is on the young lady secretary's black hat?
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How does Mr. Maxwell treat the young lady secretary?
How does Mr. Maxwell treat the young lady secretary?
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What has Mr. Maxwell told Pitcher to do?
What has Mr. Maxwell told Pitcher to do?
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How does the young lady secretary respond to Mr. Maxwell's plan?
How does the young lady secretary respond to Mr. Maxwell's plan?
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What is the atmosphere around the young lady secretary this morning?
What is the atmosphere around the young lady secretary this morning?
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What was Harvey Maxwell's job?
What was Harvey Maxwell's job?
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What was the machine beside Harvey Maxwell's table used for?
What was the machine beside Harvey Maxwell's table used for?
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What did the young lady wear on her head?
What did the young lady wear on her head?
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Why did Harvey Maxwell's hands never stop moving?
Why did Harvey Maxwell's hands never stop moving?
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What smell did Harvey Maxwell notice coming from his window?
What smell did Harvey Maxwell notice coming from his window?
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What did Harvey Maxwell ask Miss Leslie to do?
What did Harvey Maxwell ask Miss Leslie to do?
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How did Harvey Maxwell propose to Miss Leslie?
How did Harvey Maxwell propose to Miss Leslie?
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What was the reaction of Miss Leslie when Harvey Maxwell proposed to her?
What was the reaction of Miss Leslie when Harvey Maxwell proposed to her?
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What did Harvey Maxwell compare himself to?
What did Harvey Maxwell compare himself to?
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What happened to the business world during the dinner hour?
What happened to the business world during the dinner hour?
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What is the main occupation of Harvey Maxwell?
What is the main occupation of Harvey Maxwell?
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What is unusual about Miss Leslie's hat?
What is unusual about Miss Leslie's hat?
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Why does Miss Leslie ask Pitcher about the replacement stenographer?
Why does Miss Leslie ask Pitcher about the replacement stenographer?
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What is the atmosphere of the office during the day?
What is the atmosphere of the office during the day?
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What does Maxwell accuse Pitcher of doing when the lady from the stenographer's agency arrives?
What does Maxwell accuse Pitcher of doing when the lady from the stenographer's agency arrives?
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What is the significance of the lilac scent in the story?
What is the significance of the lilac scent in the story?
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What does Pitcher observe about Miss Leslie at the beginning of the story?
What does Pitcher observe about Miss Leslie at the beginning of the story?
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What is the reason for Miss Leslie's conversation with Pitcher?
What is the reason for Miss Leslie's conversation with Pitcher?
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What does the story suggest about Miss Leslie's appearance?
What does the story suggest about Miss Leslie's appearance?
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What does Maxwell's behavior suggest about his feelings towards Miss Leslie?
What does Maxwell's behavior suggest about his feelings towards Miss Leslie?
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What is the significance of Maxwell's arrival at half-nine in the morning?
What is the significance of Maxwell's arrival at half-nine in the morning?
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Why does Miss Leslie ask Pitcher about the replacement stenographer?
Why does Miss Leslie ask Pitcher about the replacement stenographer?
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What is the significance of Maxwell's change in temperament when he arrives at the office?
What is the significance of Maxwell's change in temperament when he arrives at the office?
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Why does Miss Leslie loiter outside Maxwell's office?
Why does Miss Leslie loiter outside Maxwell's office?
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What is the significance of Maxwell showing up 'in company with' Miss Leslie?
What is the significance of Maxwell showing up 'in company with' Miss Leslie?
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What does Maxwell's sudden abandonment of Miss Leslie reveal about his character?
What does Maxwell's sudden abandonment of Miss Leslie reveal about his character?
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Why does the story need to be read twice to fully understand the plot?
Why does the story need to be read twice to fully understand the plot?
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What is the significance of Pitcher's expressionless face in the story?
What is the significance of Pitcher's expressionless face in the story?
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Why does the story focus on the morning scene in the office?
Why does the story focus on the morning scene in the office?
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What is the overall tone of the story?
What is the overall tone of the story?
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Study Notes
The Office of Harvey Maxwell
- Harvey Maxwell is a busy New York broker who usually has a serious face, but today he looks surprised and interested.
- His young lady secretary, Miss Leslie, is very beautiful and simple in her appearance, with a gray dress and a gold-green wing on her hat.
The Busy Day
- The office is chaotic, with many papers and letters to be handled.
- Maxwell is busy with business news coming in from a machine, and men are constantly entering and leaving the office.
- Boys run in and out with letters for Maxwell to read and answer immediately.
The Unexpected Arrival
- A young lady arrives at the office, dressed in a grand hat with birds' wings and a long silver chain, seeking a job as a secretary.
- Pitcher explains that Maxwell requested someone for the job, but Maxwell denies this and says Miss Leslie is a perfect secretary.
Maxwell's Forgetfulness
- Pitcher comments that Maxwell is becoming more forgetful every day.
- Maxwell orders Pitcher not to send any more applicants and not to bring anyone else to see him.
The World of Business
- The office is a chaotic and fast-paced environment, where Maxwell works like a strong machine, making decisions quickly and efficiently.
- However, when the dinner hour approaches, things calm down, and Maxwell is momentarily distracted by the sweet smell of flowers, which reminds him of Miss Leslie.
The Proposal
- Maxwell rushes into the other room to ask Miss Leslie to be his wife, saying he loves her and wants to marry her.
- Miss Leslie is surprised and reveals that they were actually married the previous evening at the Little Church around the Corner.
Harvey Maxwell's Office
- The story takes place in the office of Harvey Maxwell, a busy stockbroker.
- He arrives at the office at 8:30 am with his stenographer, Miss Leslie.
Miss Leslie's Character
- Miss Leslie is described as being beautiful in an unadorned and plain way.
- She wears a black hat with a gold-green macaw wing, a grey dress, and has lilac-scented perfume.
- She is observed by Pitcher, the confidential clerk, who finds her beautiful.
Office Dynamics
- Pitcher notes that Miss Leslie lingers outside Maxwell's office instead of going straight to her desk.
- Miss Leslie asks Pitcher if Maxwell mentioned hiring a replacement stenographer the previous day.
- Pitcher confirms that Maxwell did and has contacted an agency to send potential replacements.
The Busy Day
- The office is busy due to market activity, and Maxwell works hard.
- A lady from the stenographer's agency arrives to enquire about the open position.
- Maxwell accuses Pitcher of losing his mind and denies ordering a replacement, saying Miss Leslie has given perfect satisfaction.
The Proposal
- Maxwell proposes marriage to Miss Leslie during a break in his work, apologizing for the suddenness of the proposal.
- Miss Leslie reveals that they were married the evening before, and Maxwell has forgotten due to his focus on work.
Understanding 'The Romance of a Busy Broker'
- The story requires a second reading to fully grasp the plot details and understand the twist that Harvey Maxwell and Miss Leslie (now Mrs. Maxwell) got married the evening before.
- Maxwell's temperament at work changes after the marriage, showing a spring in his step, which is revealed as a result of being a newlywed.
- Maxwell and Miss Leslie arrive at the office together, indicating they came in together, and their arrival at 9:30 am is unusual, possibly due to a late morning celebration of their nuptials.
- Miss Leslie is taken aback by Maxwell's sudden shift into work mode, forgetting their marriage, and treating her as his stenographer again.
- Miss Leslie lingers outside Maxwell's office, asking Pitcher if Maxwell has made plans to replace her, which initially appears as a worried employee inquiring about job security.
- Knowing the twist, Miss Leslie's question to Pitcher is actually a concerned wife wondering if Maxwell has plans to replace her, unaware of his intentions as a husband.
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Description
This quiz is about a scene in the office of Harvey Maxwell, a busy New York broker, where his young lady secretary, Miss Leslie, is working amidst a chaotic environment.
