A hopeful, loving, earnest face with a tender touch of motherliness in it, and perhaps the shadow of a grief that has softened but not saddened it.
"Kitty's Class Day And Other Stories"
Louisa M. Alcott
Tea without Mrs. Wilkins was dull; and Mrs. Arbuthnot had that fatal flavour of motherliness about her, of wanting to pet one, to make one very comfortable, coaxing one to eat- coaxing her, who was already so frankly, so even excessively, eating- that seemed to have dogged Scrap's steps through life.
"The Enchanted April"
Elizabeth von Arnim
Even Mrs. Fisher seemed to have been brushed by one of the many feathers of Love's wing, and at dinner was different-full of concern because Mr. Briggs wouldn't eat, and her face when she turned to him all soft with motherliness.
"The Enchanted April"
Elizabeth von Arnim