The days are past when Aunt Elisabeth, Aunt Ada and the rest of them lived on happily in the homes where they had lived for many years previously, looked after by devoted if some-times somewhat tyrannical old servants. Both sides were thoroughly satisfied with the arrangement. Or there were the innumerable poor relations, indigent nieces, semi-idiotic spinster cousins, all yearning for a good home with three good meals a day and a nice bedroom. Supply and demand complemented each other and all was well. Nowadays, things are different.
For the Aunt Adas of today arrangements have to be made suitable, not merely to an elderly lady who, owing to arthritis or other rheumatic difficulties, is liable to fall downstairs if she is left alone in a house, or who suffers from chronic bronchitis, or who quarrels with her neighbours and insults the tradespeople.
Unfortunately, the Aunt Adas are far more trouble than the opposite end of the age scale. Children can be provided with foster homes, foisted offon relations, or sent to suitable schools where they stay for the holidays, or arrangements can be made for pony treks or camps and on the whole very little objection is made by the children to the arrangements so made for them. The Aunt Adas are very different. Tuppence Beresford’s own aunt – Great-aunt Primrose – had been a notable trouble~ maker. Impossible to satisfy her. No sooner did she enter an establishment guaranteed to provide a good home and all comforts for elderly ladies than after writing a few highly complimentary letters to her niece praising this particular establishment, the next news would be that she had indignantly walked out of it without notice.
‘Impossible. I couldn’t stay there another minute!’ Within the space of a year Aunt Primrose had been in and out of eleven such establishments, finally writing to say that she had now met a very charming young man. ‘Really a very devoted boy. He lost his mother at a young age and he badly needs looking after. I have rented a flat and he is coming to live with me. This arrangement wLll suit us both perfectly. We are natural atTmities. You need have no more anxieties, dear Prudence. My future is settled. I am seeing my lawyer tomorrow as it is necessary that I should make some provision for Mervyn if I should pre-decease him which is, of course, the natural course of events, though I assure you at the moment I feel in the pink of health.’ Tuppence had hurried north (the incident had taken place in Aberdeen). But as it happened, the police had arrived there first and had removed the glamorous Mervyn, for whom they had been seeking for some time, on a charge of obtaining money under false pretences. Aunt Primrose had been highly indignant,, and had called it persecution – but after attending the Court proceedings (where twenty-five other cases were taken into account) – had been forced to change her views of her protggg.
‘I think I ought to go and see Aunt Ada, you know, Tuppence,’ said Tommy. ‘It’s been some time.’ ‘I suppose so,’ said Tuppence, without enthusiasm. ‘How long has it been?’ Tommy considered. ‘It must be nearly a year,’ he said.
‘It’s more than that,’ said Tuppence. ‘I think it’s over a year.’ ‘Oh dear,’ said Tommy, ‘the time does go so fast, doesn’t it?
I can’t believe it’s been as long as that. Still, I believe you’re right, Tuppence.’ He calculated. ‘It’s awful the way-,ne forgets, isn’t it? I really feel very badly about it.’ ‘I don’t think you need,’ said Tuppence. ‘After all, wcS,nd her things and we write letters.’ ‘Oh yes, I know. You’re awfully good about those s0r of things, Tuppence. But all the same, one does read ‘thrgs sometimes that are very upsetting.’ ‘You’re thinking of that dreadful book we got from the library,’ said Tuppence, ‘and how awful it was for the poor old dears. How they suffered.’ ‘I suppose it was true – taken from life.’ ‘Oh yes,’ said Tuppence, ‘there must be places like that. nd there are people who are terribly unhappy, who can’t lelp being unhappy. But what else is one to do, Tommy?’ ‘What can anyone do except be as careful as.possi, blen’ery careful what you choose, fred out all ibout t arm re she’s got a nice doctor looking after her.’ ‘Nobody could be nicer than Dr Murray, you must adtnit that.’