The Well of Loneliness

Mrs. Bingham is soon replaced by the young, lonely, and horse-faced Mademoiselle Duphot. While Mademoiselle Duphot has no control over Stephen, she does enjoy her company and helps her to learn French. Mademoiselle Duphot tells Stephen all about her family’s misfortunes, but Stephen keeps her own problems to herself, leaving Mademoiselle to wonder if Stephen is ever really happy.

Stephen decides she wants to learn fencing and gymnastics so she can “fight duels for wives in distress” (49). Sir Philip obliges and hires the teacher she recommends, the ex-Sergeant Smylie. He does not allow her to cut her hair, however, no matter how much she pleads. Stephen ends up being ex-Sergeant Smylie’s star pupil and excels both as a gymnast and as a fencer. Mademoiselle Duphot is impressed, but Anna is not, since she doesn’t think girls should fence. Sir Philip then buys Stephen a “thoroughbred hunter” from Ireland named Raftery. Stephen and Raferty are quick friends and love each other exceedingly. Anna likes Raferty because of his Irish roots but cannot bring herself to feel comfortable with her daughter riding him.

When Stephen is 14, Mademoiselle Duphot is sent away for a more skilled maid. Her father calls Stephen into his study and tells her she must now focus on developing her mind and not just her body.