He felt a moment's passionate gratitude to her. He'd seen her look at the boy, and knew how she must feel. She'd known about the lad, of course, but seeing the flesh-and-blood proof that her husband had shared another woman's bed wasn't something a wife should be asked to put up with. Little wonder if she was inclined to stick pins in John, him pushing the lad under her nose as he had.
In this passage, the character experiences a surge of gratitude towards a woman who is coping with a painful revelation about her husband's infidelity. The sight of the boy serves as undeniable evidence of the man's betrayal, making it difficult for her to accept the situation. The man's insensitivity in exposing the child to her reinforces her feelings of hurt and anger.
The protagonist understands that the woman's emotional struggle is compounded by the intimate reality of her husband's actions. This acknowledgment of her pain highlights the complexities of their relationship and the emotional turmoil that arises from infidelity. It's clear that her feelings of resentment are justified given the circumstances thrust upon her.
