
Francesca Bassington lives in a plush drawing‑room on Blue Street, where the elegance of china tea, fine cress sandwiches and carefully curated treasures reflects the careful order she has imposed on her life. Once the celebrated Miss Greech, she now balances the lingering charms of youth with the practical comforts of middle age, using her home as a mirror of her own soul. The narrative gently sketches her self‑awareness, her penchant for the bright side of things, and the quiet pride she feels for the objects that mark her past successes.
When a new, unexpected visitor arrives, Francesca’s well‑kept routine is nudged out of its comfortable harbor, stirring reflections on the choices she has made and the desires she has set aside. The story follows her subtle maneuvering through social expectations, family ties, and the lingering echo of earlier ambitions. With a tone that blends wry observation and affectionate detail, the first act invites listeners to explore a world where personal history is displayed as much in the walls as in the heart.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (279K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
1996-06-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1870–1916
Best known for razor-sharp short stories full of dark humor, this Edwardian master turned polite society into wonderfully mischievous comedy. Writing under the pen name Saki, he became famous for stories that still feel sly, strange, and surprisingly modern.
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