The mother, with her feet propped up on a stool, seemed to be trying to get to the bottom of that answer, whose feminine profundity had struck her all of a heap.

She had never really understood why Winnie had married Mr Verloc.

It was very sensible of her, and evidently had turned out for the best, but her girl might have naturally hoped to find somebody of a more suitable age.
There had been a steady young fellow, only son of a butcher in the next street, helping his father in business, with whom Winnie had been walking out with obvious gusto.

He was dependent on his father, it is true; but the business was good, and his prospects excellent.

He took her girl to the theatre on several evenings.