A Freudian slip?

Three folk on the tube, each with The Times... Ponsonby, Smithers, and the priest, Father Symes! Ponsonby, priest tackle crossword...Smithers the news... Ponsonby, puzzled, asks Smithers his views! "Four letter word, last three UNT... "Pertaining to woman...now what can that be?" "Easy," grins Smithers, "I see what you can't... "The word you are seeking, is clearly AUNT!" Father Symes startled, now disconcerted... "An eraser, someone!" is what he then blurted! "Oh dear, how wrong could I be?" Instead of A, he had entered C!