I really don't understand why when Edwin and Karen come home, they make no attempt whatsoever to spend time with the children so they can get to know Karen. I feel furious with Edwin's deciding his children need to see a dentist right away and then being too busy to actually take them. Why don't we see any bonding with Edwin and the children, Karen and the children, or even for that matter Edwin and Karen? Why doesn't Mrs Marlow suggest to Karen that it might be a good idea for her to get to know her new children.
That said, I love these chapters and the joys Rose, Chas, and Fob are having spending their days with Peter and Nicola. Regarding their own lack of responsibility about the Dodds, Peter and Nick are doing exactly what they want to do and are happy enough to have the Dodds along, but no one has actually said they must change their plans to babysit the Dodds. They are just all playing together. When I was young (in the 60s, about the same time as this book), groups of children of all ages might play together and one generally assumed that everyone was responsible for oneself. If someone ran into trouble, everyone was happy to help them, particularly to avoid trouble with adults, but no one was there saying "Don't do that, it isn't safe." Nick and Peter's attitude sounds very similar to our own when playing with younger kids. I don't see it as irresponsible, just a typical lack of awareness, some of which Nicola develops when she decides not to follow Peter into the cave.
One other point of interest from a personal point of view. (I could be one of those people who would be happy to buy any boat I can get my hands on). I find it fascinating that Nicola wants a catamaran to sail around the world. Where would she have seen these? Chicester sailed with a monohull. Multihulls were being rediscovered in the 60s, but not really in popular culture. I wonder where AF ran into catamarans. BTW, a trimaran would be a better global-sailing boat as they head upwind much better, but I'm assuming AF knows about circumnavigating like she knows about pigeons, and horses.
Edwin and Karen and responsibilities for others
That said, I love these chapters and the joys Rose, Chas, and Fob are having spending their days with Peter and Nicola. Regarding their own lack of responsibility about the Dodds, Peter and Nick are doing exactly what they want to do and are happy enough to have the Dodds along, but no one has actually said they must change their plans to babysit the Dodds. They are just all playing together. When I was young (in the 60s, about the same time as this book), groups of children of all ages might play together and one generally assumed that everyone was responsible for oneself. If someone ran into trouble, everyone was happy to help them, particularly to avoid trouble with adults, but no one was there saying "Don't do that, it isn't safe." Nick and Peter's attitude sounds very similar to our own when playing with younger kids. I don't see it as irresponsible, just a typical lack of awareness, some of which Nicola develops when she decides not to follow Peter into the cave.
One other point of interest from a personal point of view. (I could be one of those people who would be happy to buy any boat I can get my hands on). I find it fascinating that Nicola wants a catamaran to sail around the world. Where would she have seen these? Chicester sailed with a monohull. Multihulls were being rediscovered in the 60s, but not really in popular culture. I wonder where AF ran into catamarans. BTW, a trimaran would be a better global-sailing boat as they head upwind much better, but I'm assuming AF knows about circumnavigating like she knows about pigeons, and horses.