The mother became intimate with her children.

She really loved them because of her loss of love for herself, and because the heart must hold love.

She loved her husband too, but he realised no difference because he had loved her.

That coldness had had no headway against such doting worship.

But the children realised.
"Mamma is so much better since she wrote that book that I shall be glad when you are old enough to write a book too," Adelaide said once to Maida.
But always Margaret suffered horribly, although she gave no sign.