'And Women Must Weep' by Henry Handel Richardson (Detailed commentary and analysis)

Detailed commentary and analysis by Claire's Notes of 'And Women Must Weep' by Henry Handel Richardson
Cambridge iGCSE: Stories of Ourselves

Dolly is about to go to her first 'grown-up' ball with her Auntie Cha. She's so excited that she's been counting down the days. She has never felt so pretty in her new dress which has been made especially for her to her own specification (muslin rather than silk) and she is nervously waiting for the cab. 
Auntie Cha, however, is being quite stern with her - telling her not to look so serious or she'll frighten all the men away. Then calamity strikes - she tears off the bottom of her dress as she is getting out of the cab. Not only this, but when she sees all the other lovely silk dresses there, she wonders if she has made a mistake with her choice of muslin after all. Will any man ask her to dance?

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