He marvelled at his mother's hardness.

He knew that only years of battling had taught her to insist even so little on her rights.

She shrank as much as he.
"It's the last time I go THERE for anything!" she declared, when they were outside the place, thankful to be clear.
"We'll go," she said, "and look at Keep's and Boot's, and one or two places, shall we ?" They had discussions over the pictures, and Mrs.Morel wanted to buy him a little sable brush that he hankered after.

But this indulgence he refused.

He stood in front of milliners' shops and drapers' shops almost bored, but content for her to be interested.