The Well of Loneliness

Stephen buys herself and Mary new cars. They continue to enjoy themselves, often either shopping or fencing. Buisson has grown bitter since the war, but he continues to be impressed by Stephen’s skill.

Brockett shows up at Stephen’s, upset that she hasn’t reached out to him. He looks healthier but older since Stephen last saw him. He asks for Puddle but sees Mary is sitting in her place. He quickly catches on and congratulates Stephen before leaving.

Stephen spends a lot of time reading to Mary and helping to expand her education. She allows Mary to own lots of birds and eventually a dog they name David. 

Stephen receives a letter from Anna inviting her to Morton to discuss the estate. The letter makes no mention of Mary, which annoys Stephen but also makes her feel grateful because she knows bringing Mary to Morton means hiding their love and affection for each other. She doesn’t want Mary to have to experience her mother’s wrath, so she explains the trip will be brief and for “business” only.

Mary allows Stephen to go to Morton without any fuss. She realizes why she is not invited and accepts it. She cries when Stephen leaves, though, upset to be apart from her. She takes David for a walk and ponders the loneliness of being an “exile” in Paris. She wonders why Stephen left Morton in the first place, and she feels a deep sadness that she will never get to see Stephen’s childhood home. Simultaneously, Stephen feels deep “shame” over not taking Mary with her to her “real home.” Mary writes Stephen a loving, passionate letter.

While visiting Morton, Stephen learns with certainty that Anna purposely did not invite Mary. When Stephen mentions Mary, Anna is silent. Puddle stops Stephen before leaving and tells her to get back to work, saying that work is the only way she can protect Mary. Stephen knows Puddle is right, and the night she gets back to Mary, she lies wide awake planning her next project. Mary feels a bit insecure now that Stephen has been away, but Stephen continually reassures Mary of her love.

Mary becomes both bored and lonely in Paris. Stephen is always working, and Mary has no other friends. David is her closest companion. Stephen senses Mary is growing unhappy and it fills her with fear. She tries to quell Mary’s boredom with little outings, but the dates are brief, and the “magic” fades quickly.

Brockett comes over on Christmas Eve while Mary is out walking David. Brockett takes this chance to confront Stephen. He tells her she is forcing Mary to lead a dull life and that she needs to help Mary make friends. He suggests sending her to Valérie Seymour’s. Stephen, though not totally convinced that sending Mary to Valérie Seymour’s is the best idea, concedes that Brockett is right about Mary’s unhappiness. That evening, Stephen suggests that she and Mary attend one of Valérie Seymour’s parties. Mary agrees excitedly.

Valérie Seymour sends Stephen and Mary an invitation shortly after their discussion about her. In it she invites them to a small party Brockett is attending and admonishes Stephen for ignoring her for so long. Stephen shows the invitation to Mary, and Mary says they should go. 

Mary and Stephen arrive at Valérie Seymour’s monthly salon, which various artists attend. The atmosphere is comfortable, friendly, and devoid of drugs or drink. Many of the guests at Valérie Seymour’s have suffered for their love like Stephen has. When Stephen and Mary get home from the party, they agree that it was fun and that everyone was nice. 

Stephen and Mary become good friends with a lesbian couple, Barbara and Jaime, whom they met at Valérie Seymour’s. Barbara and Mary are especially close and often giggle over their respective lovers together. Barbara and Jaime are poor, so Stephen and Mary do as much as they can to help them, although they often refuse help. Barbara and Jaime’s apartment is messy and small, mostly because Jaime is a patently “untidy” musician. Jaime and Barbara have been together since they were children, and they are very close but often bicker. Jaime often gets depressed because she misses her childhood home of Beedles, and because they are so poor that Barbara is often sick.

One evening Jaime has a get together at which Jaime’s friends will perform. Stephen and Mary send lots of food to help prepare for the gathering. At the gathering, Henry and Lincoln, brothers Jaime knows, perform beautiful, soul-rending songs on the piano. After their performance, the group eats, drinks, and listens to Jaime’s “dry” opera.