"Short Sixes": Stories to be Read While the Candle Burns

by H. C. (Henry Cuyler) Bunner

"Short Sixes: Stories to be Read While the Candle Burns" by H. C. Bunner is a collection of short stories written in the late 19th century. This collection features various characters engaged in whimsical and poignant narratives, often exploring themes of love, social class, and the everyday lives of individuals in that period. Each story has an illustrative quality that enhances the reader's experience. The opening of the first story, "The Tenor," introduces us to two girls, Louise and Esther, who share an innocent admiration for a famous French tenor, M. Hyppolite Rémy. They engage in a ritualistic worship of his photograph and music, reflecting their youthful idolatry and emotional intensity. As they plot a daring plan for Louise to serve as a maid in the tenor's household, the narrative hints at themes of aspiration and the longing for connection with art and beauty. This sets the stage for a lively exploration of human desires and social interactions that Will be further developed in the collection.