[Vwoolf] Trigger warning . . .

[Stuart N. Clarke]

This posting may cause distress to Vara and to Karen Levenback and to . . .

First, the dates.  When Mr Floyd leaves Scarborough, he gives Johnny Flanders his kitten (Topaz).  This cannot be earlier than 1901 because there is a reference on the same page (p. 31 of the first Hogarth, 1922) to Archer’s joining the King’s Navy.  The following scene occurs before Jacob goes up to Cambridge in October 1906 (p. 44):

‘“Poor Topaz,” she said (for Mr. Floyd’s kitten was now a very old cat, a little mangy behind the ears, and one of these days would have to be killed). 
‘“Poor old Topaz,” said Mrs. Flanders, as he stretched himself out in the sun, and she smiled, thinking how she had had him gelded ...’ (p. 33)

(1) Mrs Flanders is pleased about “gelding” Topaz.

(2) Topaz is *not* a very old cat. The average lifespan of cats is 12 to 15 years. 

(3) Mange refers to cat scabies, ‘caused by ectoparasitic mites, usually characterized by intense itching, inflammation, and hair loss’ (OED). It is and was curable. 

Conclusion: Mrs Flanders is a sadistic cat killer.

Stuart
(Day 329)
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