The Children's Hour

“Even if you have no interest in your work you might at least remember that you owe me a little courtesy. Courtesy is breeding. Breeding is an excellent thing.”

Mrs. Mortar’s response to Mary’s lateness to sewing class emphasizes the role of women to grin and bear that which they do not like for the benefit of others. It also epitomizes Mrs. Mortar’s toxic attitude as a teacher, in which she places her own ego and needs before those of the girls. Mary, who frequently does what she pleases, rather than what she is supposed to do, and then lies about it, shows that she does understand how to feign courtesy. She brings flowers to Mrs. Mortar, knowing that this polite gift will distract her from Mary’s discourtesy. Mrs. Mortar is not asking for her students to be engaged in her class; rather, she simply wants them to act as if they are.

“Aunt Lily, the amount of disconnected unpleasantness that goes on in your head could keep a psychologist busy for years.”

In response to Mrs. Mortar’s insinuation that Joe’s presence in the house always ruins Martha’s day, Martha discredits her aunt. She claims that Mrs. Mortar constantly finds unpleasantness where there is none. Martha’s insult indicates that her aunt has potentially hit a nerve and noticed something that Martha believed was surreptitious. Regardless of whether her dislike of Joe stems from an attraction to Karen, Martha is undeniably hostile to him.