Mrs. Cavendish, who had married John's father when he was a widower with two sons, had been a handsome woman of middle-age as I remembered her. 
Mrs. Cavendish was a homely woman. 
mnli hypothesis: Mrs. Cavendish was a homely woman.  premise: Mrs. Cavendish, who had married John's father when he was a widower with two sons, had been a handsome woman of middle-age as I remembered her. 