She had made an effort to keep her children from harmful influences and to implant in them a hate for these things.

Whenever Mea found Elvira of a different opinion in such matters, she was assured that she was in the right by the mother's opinion, which coincided with her own; so she felt as if Elvira should be shown the right way, too.

Whenever this happened, Elvira turned from her and told her that she wanted to hear no sermons.
So the two had not yet become friends, despite the fact that Mea was still hoping and wishing for it, and her brother Kurt had proved himself in the right when he had doubted it from the beginning.

Since the incident with Loneli, when Mea had told her friend her opinion in perfectly good faith, Elvira had not spoken to her any more and had remained angry.

But Mea's nature was not inclined to sulk.