"She's a good girl.

Nobody could ever say a word against her character, and that's the main thing." She began to contrast Madelene and Janet, and the situation brightened.

At least, she was getting a daughter-in-law whom she could feel at ease with, and for whom she could have respect, possibly even liking of a certain reserved kind.
"I suggested that you'd come," Arthur was replying.

"But Madelene said she'd prefer to come to you.

She thinks it's her place, whether it's etiquette or not.