Fard by Aldous Huxley. Short summary

5 seconds

To make the haggard and sick maid look more attractive, the mistress paints her up.

1 minute

Sophie, a young maid, is exhausted from her daily drudgery. The tired maid is mending laundry and hears a scandal breaking out between her masters.

She summons her maid. She announces that her husband has insulted her and they are leaving for Rome.

She is indignant that her husband has reprimanded her for spending too much money on outfits.

The maid drags a heavy suitcase, then begins slowly packing.

Sophie startles her hostess with her sick and weary appearance. She understands that the maid should be sent to bed. But she does not want to delay her departure to punish her husband.

So she orders Sophie to take her makeup and apply her own blush and lipstick.

Now the tortured maid seems more attractive to her. The mistress hurries Sophie to pack her suitcase.