The Willoughbys

With nowhere to live, Tim desperately creates plans for everyone to follow. He tells Jane that she should contract a disease and die slowly and advises the twins to join the circus. He even tells the nanny to become a missionary in Africa. For his own future, Tim plans to pull himself up by the “bootstraps” (109) and make his own way by saving pennies that he earns, hoping that one day someone wealthy will decide to adopt him. The nanny has a better idea; she asks Mr. Melanoff if they can live with him on the condition that she help care for the baby. Mr. Melanoff agrees, and the nanny and the Willoughby children move into the mansion. One day, Mr. Melanoff tells the Barnaby twins that he made his fortune with a best-selling candy called “Lickety Twist” (112). He never eats candy himself, but his concern was to try to make money. Mr. Melanoff also admits that he has romantic feelings for the nanny.

One morning in Switzerland, Ms. Melanoff tells her son to eat his breakfast, but he hates it. She and the postmaster sit and complain about the boy, talking about how he never keeps his room clean and has become “wasted and weak” (117).