I think Ruth should ship Jill off to one of the other children and have Pip and Toby like she would like. If my mum behaved like Jill is towards one of my children’s partners, particularly as yet Toby hasn’t behaved badly to Pip, she’d be given very little leeway. Though Toby maybe a user and a wastrel its up to Pip to work that out and until such time that he hurts Pip he should be given the benefit of the doubt. I’ve always rather liked Jill up to now but she seems distinctly unhinged in her reaction to Toby and totally lacking introspection and kindness and its always a bit of shock when one finds oneself feeling sorry for Ruth
Um … he’s let her down more than once – the still (bringing it to the cottage in the first place, lying about the legality, being rude to her grandmother however provoked. Jill is right about him I think, but its not her place to behave like this. I am a bit mystified.
I agree, her behaviour is mystifying though as you say she is probably right. The way she spoke to him in the farmyard last week seemed very out of character, forgive me if I have holes in my past Archer knowledge. I see what you mean about Toby being an idiot but I didn’t think he’d actually really upset Pip in a heartbreak type way. I just really felt for Ruth 🙁