Posted by John Wilson on April 14, 2003 at 09:24:52 from 203.96.58.8 user hugo.
In Reply to: Re: the Lewthwaites posted by John Wilson on April 13, 2003 at 12:52:34:
In PM (The Great Aunt goes to see for herself; Chapter XXIII) the GA rings the bell dressed for walking, and when she tells Cook she wants the car Cook points out that “There’s only Billy Lewthwaite can do that with the Missis and Mr Turner away”.
“You will please to fetch him at once “ said Miss Turner, and Cook went out to find Bill Lewthwaite, who was digging in the potato patch behind his mother’s cottage”. His mother, Mrs Lewthwaite, Mrs Blackett’s old nurse, had heard all about the burglary from Sammy, her elder son, the policeman ....and had a good deal to say herself about Miss Turner”
Billy (Bill) hurries to Beckfoot before her, and Cook gets back as they drive out of the gateway. He can’t have cycled down, as when he needs to go and get petrol he says “... my bike’s wanting a back wheel. I put my foot through t’spokes Saturday night”. A night out at the Rio pub? Billy is called Bill twice in that chapter.
At the end of PM, the GA says to Sammy “It would be useless to talk to your sergeant, but I regret that I am leaving too soon to have a few words with your mother.” She has met her match in the sergeant!
The cottage can’t be very far away from Beckfoot, as Cook finds the track up to the Dog’s Home a challenge!
Later when the GA meets Mary Swainson, she asks her about the Walker children, and confirms that she was at Beckfoot two years ago ie during SD:
“You know the children I mean. They were for ever making my nieces late for meals when I was staying at Beckfoot the summer before last. Walker, I think their name is.”