Social opinion or other people’s perception of an individual is also a theme that runs through the story. Firstly Mrs Mooney believes that she has ‘all the weight of social opinion on her side, she was an outraged mother.’ This is significant as Mrs Mooney believes she is in the right, that she has been wronged. She allowed Bob to stay in her house, trusting him around her daughter and he has ‘simply abused her hospitality.’ Also for Bob, social opinion is important, there is a fear as regards what his friends and employers will think about Polly, she is not as refined as he would like her to be. If anything there is a sense of embarrassment for Bob.