Editor's Choice

Why hadn't Mr. and Mrs. Pigeoncote encouraged young Wilfred to visit?

Quick answer:

Mr. and Mrs. Pigeoncote did not encourage Wilfred to visit because he has a reputation as a kleptomaniac, which poses a risk to their valuable possessions, especially their silver anniversary gifts. Despite his recent inheritance of a baron title and wealth, they are wary of inviting him due to his past behavior. However, they eventually decide to invite him, driven by social aspirations, but remain cautious during his visit.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Wilfrid has a reputation of being a kleptomaniac. This is someone who has a compulsion to steal, and even though he's just inherited the title of baron and all the phenomenal wealth that goes with it, his unfortunate reputation means that he's still not the kind of person you'd want to invite to your home. The Pigeoncotes, though not as well-off as their kleptomaniac cousin, still have rather a lot of valuable items lying around the house including numerous anniversary gifts such as the seven silver jugs of the title. The last thing they'd want is to have to count all their belongings and keep a watchful, suspicious eye on their guest, yet that is precisely what they do. The difference now is that Wilfred's come into a considerable sum of money and so it might be a good idea for the Pigeoncotes to be a tad more accommodating than...

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

they have been in the past.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In Saki's "The Seven Cream Jugs," Wilfred Pigeoncote has recently been named as heir to the title of baron and a large sum of money. As a result, Mrs. Peter Pigeoncote comments that upon his recent improvements, Wilfred will most likely not pay a visit to her and her husband. Mr. Pigeoncote believes this to be true because in the past he and his wife have not done much in extending an invitation to Wilfred. Their reason for not encouraging Wilfred to visit is because they are aware that he has an "unpleasant reputation" of being a kleptomaniac. Mr. and Mrs. Pigeoncote are celebrating their twenty-fifth anniversary, which means it is customary for them to receive gifts of silver. With many valuable pieces of silver currently in the house, a visit from a kleptomaniac could be problematic. As it turns out, they do receive a visit from Wilfred. However, it is not the Wilfred known as the "Snatcher."

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Why didn't Mr. and Mrs. Pigeoncote encourage Wilfrid to visit in "The Seven Cream Jugs"?

Mr. and Mrs. Pigeoncote have always been reluctant to invite cousin Wilfrid to stay with them, as he's an incorrigible kleptomaniac. This means that he has an uncontrollable impulse to steal things. Ordinarily, this would be reason enough not to invite him, but as the Pigeoncotes have just celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary and have lots of expensive gifts lying around the house, they're even more reluctant to take a chance and let Wilfrid stay.

Nevertheless, against their better judgment, the Pigeoncotes decide to invite Wilfrid over after all. Their snobbishness has got the better of them, as they wrongly believe Wilfrid to have inherited a baronetcy. But baron or not, they resolve to keep an eye on him, especially around those seven silver jugs they received as an anniversary present.

When one of the jugs goes missing, suspicion inevitably falls on Wilfrid, but when he says that the silver jug in his suitcase was his gift to the Pigeoncotes on their anniversary, Mrs. Pigeoncote is rather embarrassed to say the least. When her husband goes off to bring her some smelling salts, Mrs. Pigeoncote tells Wilfrid—falsely—that her husband is actually a kleptomaniac. This is her way of providing a rationale for searching Wilfrid's belongings, thus avoiding embarrassment.

Approved by eNotes Editorial