It was a whim on her part, of course, inspired by something George or Nellie had told her.

I did not know whether to resent the whim or not, whether to be angry or indifferent.

If she intended to inspect Mother as a possible object of future charity I should be angry and the first call would be the last.
But Mother herself would settle all questions of charity; I knew that.
And the girl had not spoken in a patronizing way.

She had declared that idle curiosity had no part in her wish.

She seemed in earnest.