La Derniere Robe de Soi
A young woman buys a pink silk gown in the city, which she believes has betrayed her by encouraging a romantic suitor. She knows she must marry for a settlement and title, not love or pleasure. The gown seems to have witnessed the man's declarations of love, and the woman is angry that it did not warn her away. Despite this, she decides to wear the gown until it falls apart, hoping it won't feel lonely when she is married to a wealthy man and can no longer wear it.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1906 · Genre: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance · 233 words
First lines
OH, silken gown, all pink and pretty, Bought, quite a bargain, in the City, Your ill-trained soul full false has played me -- No Paris gown would have betrayed me.
You knew, my pretty silken treasure, I must not wed for love or pleasure, But for a settlement and title; Yet you encouraged his recital!
He said -- oh, faithless gown, you listened While on your sheen two tear drops glistened -- He said. let love to music set it, I'll never speak it -- nor forget it!
"No, no! " I cried, I tried to save you -- False gown, you showed the tears I gave you! You looked discreet when first I found you.
What this Textopian page supports
La Derniere Robe de Soi is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Drama
- Length: 233 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for La Derniere Robe de Soi by Edith Nesbit
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering La Derniere Robe de Soi?
- How does this short story by Edith Nesbit fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Fantasy first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Elaine And Elaine by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
- We Two by Edna Lyall
- Experience by Edith Wharton
- Experience by Edith Wharton
- The Foster Child Of The Deer by Frank Hamilton Cushing
- Galatea by Elizabeth Stuart Phelps Ward
Genres
- Fantasy — The narrative involves magical elements and supernatural events.
- Adventure — The plot includes a journey and exploration of new places.
- Romance — There are elements of love and relationships in the storyline.
- Drama — The narrative contains conflict and emotional tension.
Tags
Autobiography · Memoir · Biographical Fiction · Coming-of-Age · Victorian Era · British Literature · Social Commentary · Family Drama · Childhood Experience · Growing Up · Self-Discovery · Identity Crisis