Honestly, it hurt that her mother would say such a thing about her, but she kept her mouth shut because there was nothing she could say or do to get into her mother's good graces. It was strange being the black sheep of the family, just because she made better choices than some of her siblings morally speaking... Not that she was perfect by any means. She liked men that were from the other side of the tracks. Wait until her mother heard about her being courted and falling in love with Joe... oooh, she was going to be so angry!

Her lips pressed together hard and she said, "I was just inviting her over for tea, mama, to discuss that book she brought me while I was ill."