Answer the questions briefly.

How did Marian react to her mother's conversation with Freda?

Anne had not been willing to let Freda know that Marian was deaf and dumb although she knew the truth would not hold together for long. When Freda passed her gate and disappeared, Marian began to speak on her fingers. With the help of gestures, Marian asked Anne if she rather had Freda than her. Marian had sensed her mother’s desire for a child without her handicaps. She had been bitterly hurt. Marian being a very sensitive child could have got a glimpse of her mother’s keeping things from others and in that case, had developed alarming anxiety and worry about being deaf and dumb. Although Anne is a loving mother but her oversensitivity had already done a large amount of hurt and damage to Marian’s development.