Punch's Cousin, Chapter 201

“Hullo, Sir.” Columbia smiled at Edward Cage.


“Good evening, little girl.” Edward replied, forcing himself to be pleasant. “You say you want to play with the ‘boys’? Which boys do you mean?”

“Uncle Punch and Uncle Robert,” Columbia answered.

“Uncle Punch and Uncle Robert,” Edward grumbled. He glared at Mr. Punch. “So, Your Grace, now you’ve got your servants’ children calling you by that fool name?”

Mr. Punch nodded, speaking as Julian, “Mr. Cage, it’s a term of affection. Something, I’m sure that you’d not understand.”

“That’s fine, Columbia.” Marjani said quickly. “His Grace and Dr. Halifax will join you downstairs when the big people are through with their talking.”

Columbia nodded.

“Wish Mr. Cage and Miss Rittenhouse a good evening.” Marjani said softly.

“Good evening,” Columbia curtsied. She smiled at Ulrika. “Your hair is the color of fire.”

“Fire burns, little girl.” Ulrika cooed.

“I ‘spose it does.” Columbia shrugged. “Hope it don’t hurt your head.” With that, Columbia ran off to go play with Toby.

“Edward,” Cecil spoke up. “As you can see, your son is not here.”

“I see nothing of the sort.” Edward spat.

“Mr. Cage, do you really think His Grace would put himself out to do anything to assist his sister?” Robert asked.

“You’re asking me to predict the actions of a man who fancies that he’s some sort of incarnation of a wooden-headed puppet?”

“In my case,” Punch smiled, still speaking in Julian’s voice. “I was partly papier mache. You see, I was not a regulation Mr. Punch, but rather one created for a child.”

“You see?” Edward bellowed. “He’s mad. There’s no telling what he’d do.”

“You can tear the house apart.” Robert said, “but you won’t find that child here.”

“This isn’t over.” Edward said.

“You’re not going to leave, really?” Ulrika gasped. “You must make them pay for what they’ve done.”

“Dwelling here, Ulrika, isn’t going to bring Holt back to me. These people aren’t going to cooperate.” Mr. Cage snorted.

“Edward!” Ulrika argued.

“Quiet, you.” Edward growled.

“We wish you all the best of luck in finding what you seek.” Adrienne said.

“And, I wish you the best of luck, Mrs. Halifax.” Edward snarled.

“Whatever do you mean?” Adrienne asked.

“I hope you all enjoy being watched.” Edward grinned. “I will make sure that no one exits or enters this house without my knowing. I will know whenever a candle is lit in any room. I will monitor every breath you take. Until I find my son, I will study every blink of your eyes.”

“Do as you wish, Edward, but please leave my home,” Cecil answered.

“No, this isn’t over,” Edward repeated. “You’ve made a terrible enemy in me.”

“Everyone is your enemy.” Cecil shook his head. “Perhaps that’s why your child has been taken from you. You’d do better to focus on the people who’d do you harm than those who simply wish to be left alone.”

“Come, Ulrika!” Edward groaned.

“Edward, really.” Ulrika whispered.

“Come!” Edward spat. He laughed, looking at each face in the room, “I’ll be seeing you.”

With that, Edward left, followed by a reluctant Ulrika Rittenhouse.

“I’ll show them out,” Marjani volunteered.

“Thank you, Marjani.” Adrienne nodded.

Everyone in the nursery stood perfectly still until Marjani returned.

“They left,” Marjani said several moments later when she came back. “But, they ain’t far.”

“This is too much,” Cecil barked.

“You were brilliant, my dear.” Adrienne said, putting her head on her husband’s shoulder.

“I’m so terrible sorry ‘bout Columbia.” Marjani sighed.

“No!” Mr. Punch protested. “She was wonderful.”

“Do you think she knew what was happening?” Robert asked.

“I don’t think so.” Marjani sniffed.

“Meridian,” Cecil began. “You’d best go let Miss Allen and the child out of that cupboard. We’ve got to find a way to get them out of here.”

“All of us.” Charles interrupted as he came in from the passage where he’d been lurking while Edward was in the room.

“Yes, indeed.” Mr. Punch said firmly. “All of us. Right, Chum?”

“Right,” Robert nodded, smiling.

“I’ll fetch her.” Meridian said, hurrying off.

“How are you going to get out of here without Edward seeing?” Adrienne asked. “You heard him. He’ll be watching the house. I’m sure he’ll have someone spying on all the doors!”

“We’ll figure out something.” Robert said quietly. “There’s got to be a way.”

Frenzied footsteps above them made the group pause. They listened as they heard Meridian’s hurried feet on the attic stairs.

She came breathlessly into the room.

“Meridian?” Robert asked. “Where’s…”

“She’s gone!” Meridian gasped. “They’re both gone! Miss Allen and the baby!”



Did you miss Chapters 1-200? If so, you can read them here.

Goal for the Day: Be Better, Not Bitter

News of the first successful full face transplant this week raises an interesting point. The recipient of the transplant has professed his philosophy of being better, not bitter. It’s a very true concept.


While none of us can always change the events which shape our lives, we can choose the manner in which we handle them. Becoming bitter and angry is the easiest approach to life. We could spend our days complaining and seething. Anyone can do that. However, a truly remarkable individual will find a way to rise above the pain and make a vow to both ourselves and our loved ones to look at each challenge as an opportunity to be better. We may never be able to turn back time and return to where we were, but we can always forge ahead to become something even more wonderful.

Object of the Day: An Exceptional Ruby Stickpin

This is the height of mid-Victorian jewelry design for gentlemen. As jewelers developed more refined methods of assembling pieces and creating brighter cuts for gemstones, delicate designs became all the more fashionable.


A man of refinement would take great care on selecting the stickpin which would secure his cravat. It should not only match his attire, but be appropriate for the activities of the day. Here, we see a flower-head design of bright rubies with a slight magenta fire surrounding a neatly-faceted Old European-Cut diamond. Perfect in daylight or the elegant flicker of candlelight, this is a stickpin that communicated impeccable taste.

Painting of the Day: “An Al-Fresco Toilette,” 1885-1897

An Al-Fresco Toilette
Samuel Luke Fildes
1885-1897
The Lady Lever Art Gallery, Liverpool

Liverpool-born artist Samuel Luke Fildes considered himself a member of the Neo-Venetian School of painters who excelled at depicting joyful scenes of everyday life and people. Fildes studied in Italy and did a number of sketches which he planned to transform into full-scale paintings. One idea that he had was to show a decaying Venetian palace as a backdrop for a scene of middle class girls romping about and worrying about their beauty. Fildes found humor in the fact that many of the once-great palazzos had become the homes of several lower-income families who were obsessed with looking wealthy when they weren’t really.


Fildes struggled with this painting for twelve years before he finally allowed it be sold. He was never fully satisfied with the final product which he altered repeatedly. The painting was purchased by art collector Arthur Anderson to hang in his palatial London townhouse. In 1913, it was sold to Lord Leverhulme who thought that the scene of grooming would be effective in advertisements for his line of soap. Though always a businessman first, Leverhulme did appreciate a good piece of art. Thanks to his interference, the painting is now permanently protected in Liverpool’s Lady Lever Art Gallery.

Person of the Week: Jean Marsh

As a passionate devotee of ITV’s Upstairs, Downstairs, I have a perennial soft-spot for the goings-on at the fictional 165 Eaton Place. I was quite delighted this weekend to get my first look at the continuation of the series which was broadcast on BBC 1 during Christmas of 2010. I have to say that it’s even more brilliant than I’d hoped! But, we’ll have more about that in our “Sunday Viewing” feature in a few days.


One thing is for sure, for me, the heart of Upstairs, Downstairs is Jean Marsh who not only plays “Rose Buck,” but also one of the two women who created the show in 1971. Eileen Atkins (who now stars in the newest version of the show) and Jean Marsh worked together to create a series which would truthfully depict the lives of the people “below stairs.” While most dramas dealt exclusively with the high-tone antics of the upper class, Marsh and Atkins knew that the staff members of grand homes had their own equally-interesting worries and tales. This concept developed into the program that we know today.

The Upstairs, Downstairs Web Pages

However, there’s more to Jean Marsh than just Rose Buck. Miss Marsh has enjoyed a distinguished and fascinating career. Born in Stoke Newington, London, Miss Marsh wished to pursue acting at an early age, and in the 1950’s and 1960’s won many roles on popular television programs both in the U.K. and the U.S. Some of her standout turns on television include appearances on The Twilight Zone, Gideon’s Way, I Spy and The Saint. In the late 1960’s, Miss Marsh appeared several times in Dr. Who as well as the serial, The Crusade.

The 1970’s were a fruitful and exciting time for Jean Marsh as Upstairs, Downstairs became an international hit which won her many awards, including an Emmy, for her work as house parlor-maid, Rose Buck. Following the initial conclusion of Upstairs, Downstairs in 1975, Miss Marsh continued to work in television and also picked up with her film career, appearing in prominent roles in several large productions.

In 1991, Atkins and Marsh again reteamed to create a new series—The House of Eliott—which ran through 1992. Now, with the revival of Upstairs, Downstairs, Miss Marsh and Rose are once again visiting our homes.

For her many contributions to the arts through her superlative acting, writing and overall beautiful way of thinking, Jean Marsh is our “Person of the Week.”

The original cast of Upstairs, Downstairs, 1971
The Upstairs, Downstairs Web Pages

The 2010 cast of the show
The Upstairs Downstairs Web Pages

Sculpture of the Day: Burns and Highland Mary, 1851

Burns and "Highland Mary"
Copeland & Sons, Ltd., 1851
Parian
Purchased by Queen Victoria
and Prince Albert at
The Dublin Exhibition, 1853
Also included were two glass
lamp shades.
The Royal Collection

Ye banks, and braes, and streams around
The castle o' Montgomery!
Green be your woods, and fair your flowers,
Your waters never drumlie:
There Simmer first unfauld her robes,
And there the langest tarry;
For there I took the last Farewell
O' my sweet Highland Mary.
--Robert Burns, 1792


With the rise of Parian ware, in the 1850’s, sculpture was becoming something that even the middle classes of Britain could afford. This unglazed biscuit mimicked the look of marble without the expense and was the perfect medium to create both original figures and reproductions of famous artwork.


Queen Victoria and Prince Albert—who had access to all the marbles in the world—were keen collectors of Parian figures because they liked the intimacy of the pieces and the feel of the medium. They allowed makers of Parian ware such as Copeland & Sons to create Parian reproductions of several of their most beloved full-scale marble figures so that others could also enjoy their beauty.

While at the Dublin Exhibition in 1853, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert purchased two Parian figural groups by Copeland & Sons with the intention of making them into lamp bases. This is one of the two groups. Created in 1851, the group depicts the poet Robert Burns with his lady-love, Mary Campbell, who as known as “Highland Mary.” Not only were Victoria and Albert drawn to the medium, they also liked the romantic subject matter—being as they were similarly in love.

Treat of the Week: A Rich Chocolate Cinnamon Cake

It’s no secret that I’m a fan of cake. Cake and I have had a longstanding friendship and I appreciate it in all its many forms. This, however, is one of my favorites. What sets this cake apart from other chocolate cakes is the inclusion of cinnamon in the batter which elevates the flavor to a spiced richness which far surpasses the average chocolate cake.


Walnuts, raisins and chocolate chips add texture and mellow flavor to this extremely moist, delicate cake. Iced with a creamy mocha frosting, the cake is garnished with chocolate chips which give extra bite to each mouthful.

This, like many of the wonderful confections my mother creates is a recipe of her own creation. Creating your own masterpieces is part of the excitement of cooking. If you’d like to create a similar cake, an online search for basic chocolate cake recipes will give you a starting point to combine your favorite flavors into one exceptionally delicious work of art.

Meanwhile, I’ll do a search for a fork and get to eating…