The Old Maid is a tragic story of two cousins, Charlotte and Delia, who are separated by a family feud. Charlotte is the daughter of a wealthy family, while Delia is the daughter of a poor family. Charlotte is forced to marry a man she does not love, while Delia is left to fend for herself. Charlotte's husband dies, leaving her a widow and a single mother. She is forced to take a job as a governess to support herself and her daughter. Delia, meanwhile, is left to fend for herself and eventually becomes a maid in Charlotte's household. The two women become close friends, but their relationship is strained by the fact that Charlotte is the mistress of the house and Delia is the servant. Charlotte's daughter, Tina, is unaware of the tension between the two women and grows to love Delia as a second mother. When Charlotte's brother discovers the relationship between the two women, he is outraged and demands that Charlotte fire Delia. Charlotte refuses, and the two women are forced to flee the city. The two women eventually settle in a small town, where they live in poverty. Charlotte is forced to take a job as a seamstress, while Delia works as a maid. Despite their difficult circumstances, the two women remain devoted to each other. When Charlotte's brother discovers their whereabouts, he threatens to have Delia arrested. Charlotte is forced to make a heartbreaking decision: she must choose between her brother and her beloved Delia. In the end, Charlotte chooses Delia, and the two women remain together until the end of their days.
By Edith Wharton · First published 1924 · Genre: Realism, Romance, Drama · 11 chapters