Possible Clues:

• Unpleasant fact person is made to realise about himself
• In reality?
• Unpleasant fact faced by David's great-grandmother at back of house
• Unpleasant fact told to someone about themselves
• Wounding mention of another's weakness
• Blunt statement in house encountered with sorrow
• Punch right in the mouth, wild with unwelcome remark
• Wounding fact revealed in The Kingfisher?
• Unpleasant fact about oneself by way of domestic veracity
• Unpleasant fact confronted by woman at head office