The character was anticipating a warm welcome, if not sheer joy, from his family due to his relative status as a "reprobate." He believed that the head of the family had graciously chosen to pay him a visit, which he considered a significant gesture of goodwill. However, he soon realized that his own expectations might be misplaced, as the reprobate himself seemed entirely oblivious to the familial condescension involved in the visit.

This highlights the complexity of family dynamics, where one party's expectations do not align with the actual sentiments of another. The visit, intended to reflect a level of superiority or forgiveness, falters in its effectiveness, demonstrating the misunderstandings that can arise within familial relationships.