Mrs. Mooney is a mother who protects her unfavourable daughter from public insult by somehow, making Mr. Doran wed her daughter. Mrs. Monney's way of doing that is noway justifiable, (i.e. Joyce makes the reader feels sympathy towards Doran more than towards her.) yet, as a mother she does the best thing for her daughter because of motherly love. She stands for her daughter, which makes her an "admirable mother".