She's for ever on that 'igh horse of hers, an' it's back's that thin an' starved it'll cut her in two one of these days." Clara suffered badly from her mother.

Paul felt as if his eyes were coming very wide open.

Wasn't he to take Clara's fulminations so seriously, after all?
She spun steadily at her work.

He experienced a thrill of joy, thinking she might need his help.

She seemed denied and deprived of so much.