To continue where so rudely interuppted, Mumsie's Pa was the local alchemist. Grandpa had long since past on to the Great Dispensery in the Sky but Baroness Airhead thought because Grandpa knew all about snake -oil cures Mumsie would too, Mumsie knew diddly squit, but she could put on a good act and look intelligent. So we all had a good larf out of Mumsie's imagined cures. Especially the one for darling little Nella's (the Baroness's brat of a daughter ) delicate digestive system (constipation). After the cure Mumsie concocted Leesha reckoned Nella wouldn't leave the guarde -robe for a month! I laughed myself sick! To return to the fateful Cheese and Wine Party. None of us girls were considered old enough to attend. Nella, the Hardupski's only brat - was only 11 1/2, I considered myself the height of elegance and sophistication, but was only 13 and Leesha a year younger. However, I managed to wheedle the story later from Morgana, Grandpa's old girlfriend.