Despite Madeleine's parents being angry about their daughter divorcing Howard in silence and then going abroad, the sight of her returning safe and sound after three and a half years made even the greatest anger seem irrelevant.
After lunch, Madeleine chatted with her mom in the small living room. While she could act spoiled and complain about her tough life in Oceania to Rusell and Edward, in front of her mom, she always spoke of things that made her happy.
Towards the end of their conversation, Madeleine's mom still touched on the issue that had been on her mind all these years, "Madeleine, why did you divorce Howard?"
The topic of her divorce from Howard was something she was reluctant to think about or confront.
