Perhaps saying Mrs Marlow is a bad mother is a bit strong, but I don't know. I don't think she's a particularly good mother, but I guess she's just trying to do her best. I still feel that it was unfair to all the others to single Ginty out to such an extent, as I definitely got the impression that it was an unusually big present. I don't generally have much sympathy with Lawrie, but this was one occasion I felt for her, especially since all the tohers seemed to be a bit cavalier about her distress as well.

I'm still not sure about the school fees thing - it seems unfair to pick one, but I'm not sure how they could have done it otherwise, and Mrs Marlow's reasons are pretty logical. I think the worst thing is that in effect Lawrie is being "rewarded" for being a brat, and Nicola "punished" for being the better behaved twin.