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London, 1900.

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H (1865-), 35: Edric Thomas Appleby (RowenaRavenclaw)
W (1868-), 32: Myrtle Catherine Crenshaw (cher529s)

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S (1892-), 8: Alberic Edwin "Alby" Appleby (molly)
S (1895-), 5: Dunstan Thomas "Dunnie" Appleby (Darkbone)
D (1895-), 5: Dorothea Marigold "Dolly" Appleby (Wordsmith)
D (1897-), 3:

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FN: an unusual virtue name.
MN: simple and plain.

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S (1899-), 1:

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FN: ends in O.
MN: simple and plain.

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By the turn of the century, what was once a modest, tidy townhouse has transformed into a home filled with the echoes of small footsteps, scattered toys, and the clutter of family life. The garden, once Myrtle's peaceful retreat, now serves as a makeshift battleground for wooden trains and tin soldiers, overseen by Alby.

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Alby often leads his younger siblings, Dunstan and Dorothea, into adventures and trouble. The twins, now five, are an inseparable pair. Dunstan, or Dunnie, is quieter and more thoughtful, often found tinkering with the wooden trains Edric carves for him. Dorothea, known as Dolly, is fearless, with a habit of collecting stray cats and beetles, much to Edric's quiet amusement and Myrtle's resigned acceptance.

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Edric continues his work on the railways, though the frequency of his travel has lessened since the birth of the twins. Projects still take him away for weeks at a time, but he now returns more often to find Alby eager to show him the latest fort constructed from cushions and garden tools, or Dolly proudly presenting him with flowers pilfered from their neighbour's yard.

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Dunnie, always the quietest of the three, often waits until the commotion settles before slipping Edric one of his own sketches - crude but earnest drawings of trains inspired by his father's sketchbooks.

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Myrtle's days are no less full. Her informal tutoring sessions have grown into a steady stream of neighbourhood children, and though her parlor now doubles as a classroom. In 1897, Myrtle suffered a brief illness that left her bedridden for several weeks.

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During that time, Edric stayed close to home, managing both the railway projects from afar and the increasingly energetic household. By the following spring, Edric began to carve out more time for his family, choosing to oversee local railway projects rather than those in distant colonies.

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The Applebys' garden parties, once simple affairs, have grown into larger gatherings filled with neighbours, friends, and the occasional curious railway colleague. Alby often takes it upon himself to help during these events by liberating desserts from the kitchen and leading the neighbourhood children in raucous games on the lawn. Dolly, follows close behind, while Dunnie prefers to sit quietly by the garden's edge.

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In the summer of 1897, the Appleby family grew once again with the arrival of a calm and quiet baby girl, content to sleep through the lively clamour of her older siblings. Two years later, in 1899, the Applebys welcomed their fifth child, a son. With five young children under one roof, the Appleby household had grown fuller and noisier but no less joyful.

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Alby, at five, found that having another sibling meant even more responsibility - a role he took on with all the enthusiasm of a self-appointed leader. When visitors arrived, Alby proudly introduced each sibling in turn, as if presenting his greatest achievements.

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masculine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124079
feminine list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/191050/124080