Why would she believe a virtual stranger over her own father?

From the way she puts it, our mother can never hope to win over her father again!

I told him about the misunderstanding over my father, and how he had made light of it.

She rose and bent over her father, the better to hear his whisper.

Oh, why had she not fought him as he bent over her father!

What right did she have to believe Kira over her own father?

"Must still be in shock over his father," I said.

It will give him a sense of power over your father.

Clearly, though, he was curious about the sudden change that had come over his father.

He bent over his father, and then turned around wildly.