The Well of Loneliness

The apartment in the Avenue de la Grande Armée was as tidy as Valérie's had been untidy. From the miniature kitchen to the miniature salon, everything shone as though recently polished, for here in spite of restricted finances, no dust was allowed to harbour.

Mademoiselle Duphot beamed on her guests as she herself opened the door to admit them. "For me this is very real joy," she declared. Then she introduced them to her sister Julie, whose eyes were hidden behind dark glasses.