Not that Lawrence’s mother was not smiling, even gushing in her manner. In talking she frequently leaned her body towards Joanna’s with an enveloping movement clearly meant to convey an impression of quite remarkable warmth. Each time this happened it is true that Joanna found herself drawing back with instinctive hostility: but whenever she had done so, she was somehow made to feel herself in the wrong.

“What! I give such a hearty welcome to my son’s guest, and this is all the thanks I get!” Mrs. Urquhart seemed to say.

Aloud, she was making the ordinary, polite enquiries after Mrs. Bannerman’s well-being. But here again, her words and the impression she conveyed were two very different things; and Joanna, though she struggled against it, understood at once that in the speaker’s estimation, her mother was a highly ridiculous and eccentric person.

“I had a great admiration,” continued Mrs. Urquhart, – “a very great admiration for your dear father, Mrs.— you must excuse me, I have never grasped your married name.”

Joanna informed her, and flushing rather from annoyance than from shyness, begged to be addressed by her Christian name. Her request came automatically, simply because it was expected of her, and even as it crossed her lips she knew she was being bullied by this heavy, white woman. She was sure that the excuse about her surname was untrue. Yet was it not all friendliness on Mrs. Urquhart’s part.

“Yes, I admired Father,” repeated the elder woman, exuding a geniality which was falsified by the little, calculating, fixed eyes. “I worked with him many a day at the Foundry Boys and the Children’s Dinner Table; and when my boy told me you were coming to tea, I was glad to welcome you for Father’s sake. No man in Glasgow, I have always said, was more respected. And so handsome too: and a smile for every one. Lawrence had an idea that you had his features, but I cannot say I see it. No: to my way of thinking you favour your mother.”

Joanna having nothing else to say felt she must thank her hostess at this point for having so kindly invited her.

“Not at all,” was the rejoinder. “Lawrence will tell you I make all his friends welcome as far as my means permit. I was always one to let the boy choose his own companions, and I encourage him to bring them to the house. It cannot be said of me, as of some mothers, that I grudge any innocent pleasure to the young folks. If only Lawrence appreciated this. But you would wonder at how many of his evenings he spends with friends Mother never sees.”

As some response to this was expected, Joanna supposed at random that Lawrence had to see such friends in connection with his work.