Even Hilda did not think of accusing her mother of folly.

Mrs.Lessways having patted her hair, emptied several handkerchiefs from the twin pockets of her embroidered black apron, and, snatching at the clean handkerchief furnished by Hilda, departed to her fate.

She was certainly startled and puzzled, but she was not a whit intimidated, and the perception of this fact inspired Hilda with a new, reluctant respect for her mother.
Hilda, from the kitchen, heard the greetings in the drawing-room, and then the reverberations of the sufferer's nose.

She desired to go into the drawing-room.

Her mother probably expected her to go in.