"Eat as much as you like," Helen said warmly, laughing a little. "You never have to worry about eating in front of me, Coraline, I assure you of that. Take seconds and thirds, if you want. Call me progressive, but I simply hated being told it wasn't ladylike to eat my fill and enjoy my food."

That had changed, as she'd grown older, and she did restrict her intake but young girls didn't need that sort of discouragement.