When the senior Mrs. Bloomfield first comes to visit the Bloomfields, Agnes believes she has finally found a person who will side with her in her troubles with the children. This lady seems to understand that the children act badly and that Agnes is hard pressed to take care of them. After the children escape from the schoolroom and run outside to play in the snow, Agnes hears this elder asking the children's mother if Agnes is really an appropriate teacher for the kids. After this Agnes is no longer comfortable in the older lady's presence. Agnes believes the lady is hypocritical and insincere. The elder Mrs. Bloomfield also seems to have a great deal of influence over her son. Agnes feels that after this lady visits, Mr. Bloomfield seems to pay an unusual amount of attention to her teaching.
