Explore "The Well of Loneliness" by Radclyffe Hall on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
At about this time Stephen first became conscious of an urgent necessity to love. She adored her father, but that was quite different; he was part of herself, he had always been there, she could not envisage the world without him -- it was other with Collins, the housemaid. Collins was what was called "second of three"; she might one day hope for promotion. Meanwhile she was florid, full-lipped and full-bosomed, rather ample indeed for a young girl of twenty, but her eyes were unusually blue and arresting, very pretty inquisitive eyes. Stephen had seen Collins sweeping the stairs for two years, and had passed her by quite unnoticed; but one morning, when Stephen was just over seven, Collins looked up and suddenly smiled, then all in a moment Stephen knew that she loved her -- a staggering revelation!
Collins said politely: "Good morning, Miss Stephen."