Jeremy's Aunts
Jeremy's maiden aunts, Jennifer (left) and
Jacobina (right), were both sisters of Josiah for Lady Bethany Twirler was
an only child (the Twirler parents being rigorously opposed
to undue familiarity. After Lady Bethany was conceived
they slept in separate counties to avoid an unpleasant reprise).
Very little is documented about either sister beyond their much vaunted
chastity. We know that Jennifer was rather reticent, speaking
only eleven words between 1864 and 1879, whilst her sister
spoke non-stop, even whilst breathing in.
Both seem to have encouraged Jeremy in his scientific studies.
We know that Jacobina defended him more than once to his
openly contemptuous father, whilst one letter from a seventeen-year-old
Jeremy begins: 'Dear Aunt Jennifer, I write to express
my gratitude to you for allowing me to examine your rampant
desquamation. It was an astounding experience which I cannot
forget. When I am older I shall describe it to Stanleyson
in Geneva and request that he find you an appropriate lotion
...'.
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