Tina

What did you think of her?

The men

We barely see any of the men in the story (Clem Spender, Jim Ralston, Joe Ralston, Lanning Halsey). We only hear about their characters through the women. Why do you think Wharton chose to keep them in the shadows?

After the wedding

This section really struck me:

“Yes—and afterward?

Well—what? and what did this new question mean? Afterward: why, of course, there was the startled puzzled surrender to the incomprehensible exigencies of the young man to whom one had at most yielded a rosy cheek in return for an engagement ring; there was the large double-bed; the terror of seeing him shaving calmly the next morning, in his shirt-sleeves, through the dressing room door; the evasions, insinuations, resigned smiles and Bible texts of one's Mamma; the reminder of the phrase "to obey" in the glittering blur of the Marriage Service; a week or a month of flushed distress, confusion, embarrassed pleasure; then the growth of habit, the insiduous lulling of the matter-of course, the dreamless double slumbers in the big white bed, the early morning discussions and consultations through that dressing room door which had once seemed to open into a fiery pit scorching the brow of innocence.”

Any thoughts on Wharton's depiction of marriage, sex, passion?

Delia vs. Charlotte

Though there is obviously love and friendship, there is also great competition and resentment between Delia and Charlotte. What are your thoughts on their relationship? Did you find yourself sympathizing more with one more than the other?

"The Old Maid"

OMG, it was so good! Right?

I mean, uh, did you like it? First impressions? (You are free to express your own opinion, but just so you know, it was really good.)