Edith--don't bother to come downstairs--let me bring you up your supper." A pause.

"I wish you would.

I'd love to." He heard Deborah come by his door and go up the second flight of stairs to the room she had taken on the third floor.
"I was wrong," he reflected, "she has been trying--but it doesn't do any good.

Women simply haven't it in 'em to see each other's point of view.
Deborah doesn't admire Edith--she can't, she only pities her and puts her down as out of date.

And Edith feels that, and it gets her riled, and she sets herself like an angry old hen against all Deborah's new ideas.