Cicely : $b a story of three years

"Cicely: A Story of Three Years" by Mrs. Molesworth is a tale set in the late 1800s, and centers on Geneviève Casalis, a young girl in southern France, as she deals with family duties, societal expectations, and personal dreams for the future. The story begins by presenting Geneviève's home life, connections with her mother and the servants, hinting at her hopes for something more than she currently has. Early in the story, Geneviève thinks about her ordinary life while feeling self-conscious about her clothes. As she thinks about her summer dresses and what they say about her socially, her mother asks her to take soup to the Widow Lafon, causing her to meet new people, including an interesting man, Mr. Fawcett, after an unforeseen event that might change her life. The beginning introduces themes of class differences, personal ambition, and an innocence, where Geneviève's dreams of wealth and exciting travels are contrasted with the everyday lives of her mother.