Final answer:
The woman in the story tries to be better than her circumstances by reminding Dorothy of their own desire for more and by acting as a reminder to be grateful for what they have.
Step-by-step explanation:
The passage suggests that the woman in the story tries to be better than her circumstances in a couple of ways.
One way is by reminding the main character, Dorothy, of their own desire for more, which serves as a motivation to strive for better.
Another way is by acting as a message that their situation could be worse, serving as a reminder to be grateful for what they have.
The woman's actions demonstrate resilience and a determination to overcome the limitations of her circumstances.