The Visits of Elizabeth — Elinor Glyn

An epistolary novel, following the observations made by a young debutante to her mother -- the marriages, morals, fashion, and homes of high society are revealed, along with the intimate, clandestine relationships between those at the top of the social ladder. Elizabeth may be naive and innocent but she sees it all!

"They asked also about England, and was it really true that when we went to a ball we stayed with our danseurs till the next dance? I said I had not been to a ball yet, but had always heard that is what one did. One of the friends is quite nice-looking, but with such dirty nails. It appears you don't wash much till you are married, it is not considered bien vu, in fact rather lance, and you can't have fine under-clothes, it has all got to be as unattractive as possible, and that shows you are as good as gold and will make a nice wife."