Bedknobs & Bedrooms & Broomsticks & Hallways

Sheila was talking about Bedknobs & Broomsticks, which for a second I mistook for Bedrooms & Hallways, which you would recognize as a funny mistake if you have any idea of either. I was struck by Sheila's comments:

I have to say, too, that I would "give up witchcraft" if I got a man, sure I would, it makes total sense. I don't think I would "give up witchcraft" for a man who was a "sexless pixie", though.

Some day I need to do a post about my childhood fascination with Cockney orphans. I think it began with Oliver Twist, which I read when I was 11, but it may go back further than that, and would actually be interesting to investigate. Any movie that starred cute little Cockney orphans was o-kay by me! They set my imagination free, un-loosed powers of creativity in me ... it was an endless fascination.

For some reason, these lines set off a swirl of thoughts. First of all, I wasn't sure whether to apply an obvious interpretation to witchcraft or not--does giving up witchcraft here equal giving up work? Or did she mean something more subtle, like feminine wiles, or the secret part of your nature, or one's battles with dark forces in the world, or or...what? (And you needn't answer, Sheila, if--when--you're reading this, I like the speculation.)

As for Cockney orphans, well, of course. Who among us isn't fascinated by Cockney orphans?

Update: My thought on witchcraft (whatever it represents), is that having a man in my life only serves to increase my desire to practice it.