Though she is irritated by Aunt Mary Maria, Anne throws Aunt Mary Maria a birthday party, out of pity, in Chapter 14 of Anne of Ingleside. Always sensitive about her age, Aunt Mary Maria is so insulted that she decides to leave.

“I don’t know what your purpose was, Annie. That there is something back of all this I know very well . . . oh, I can read your mind, dear Annie . . . but I shall not try to ferret it out . . . I shall leave it between you and your conscience.”

“Aunt Mary Maria, my only intention was to give you a happy birthday. I’m dreadfully sorry. . . .”

Aunt Mary Maria put her handkerchief to her eyes and smiled bravely.

“Of course I forgive you, Annie. But you must realize that after such a deliberate attempt to injure my feelings I cannot stay here any longer.”

“Amity, won’t you believe . . .”

Aunt Mary Maria lifted a long, thin, knobby hand.

“Don’t let us discuss it, Annie. I want peace . . . just peace. ‘A wounded spirit who can bear?’”

In Chapter 7 of Magic for Marigold, Grandmother prevents Marigold from going to see her imaginary friend Sylvia, and Marigold is heartbroken. Grandmother tells her troubles to her friend Adam Clow, a doctor of psychology:

Grandmother had to tell somebody. Adam’s coming seemed providential. She had always found it easy to tell things to him–always, until now. To her amazement, she found it incredibly hard to tell Adam Clow that she had locked The Magic Door.

“She doesn’t seem to want to get better,” she concluded helplessly.

“‘A wounded spirit who can bear’?” quoted Adam Clow softly.

“I don’t understand,” said Grandmother in a hurt tone. “I–I think I’ve been very kind to Marigold.”

Proverbs 18:14
King James Bible

The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?