who was mrs.dorling/ why did she visit mrs.S house frequently?

Mrs Dorling was an old acquaintance of the the narrator's mother whom she hadn't seen for years. She had suddenly turned up and renewed contact their contact, thus coming to their place regularly. Mrs Dorling would visit the house frequently taking something from their home for safekeeping until the war was over. She took all the table silver at one go,then the antique plates, large vases and crockery. The narrator's mother hadn't asked her,she had volunteered to do it herself,insisting upon doing so. Mrs Dorling wanted to save all the nice things apparently, so that if they had to leave then they would not lose those things. The narrator's mother appreciated this gesture thinking that it was a benevolent gesture considering the risk to her life,she would go out with a full suitcase or bag.