The Grey Wig

The Grey Wig is a novel written by I. Zangwill. The story revolves around characters including Madame Dépine and Madame Valière who were tenants at the Hôtel des Tourterelles in Paris. Practically it was two old maids whose boots turned pointed toes towards each other in the dark cranny of the fusty corridor of the sky floor. Madame la Propriétaire and Madame Dépine were neighbors at the Hôtel des Tourterelles in Paris. But they never spoke to each other, for they disliked each other so much it was impossible to bear to look at each other. For years, their most cherished dream had been to gracefully don a grey wig. But how could a helpless elderly woman possibly save enough money for a new wig? Cry for the moon or some artificial teeth, if you must. Unless the lottery, that is. Both of them were made to blush by Madame la Propriétaire. The old ladies' hired pillows were saturated with tears of embarrassment and pain. Madame Dépine had learned to wear her wig with vengeful endurance over time, whereas Madame Valière had learned to wear hers with a serene resignation.