Old Maid by Edith Wharton

¶ … Old Maid -- the evil that women do to one another through jealousy

Because of the jealous rivalry between women, the relationship of the cousins Charlotte and Delia is forever poisoned in The Old Maid. First, jealousy destroys any hope of creating a happy marriage, based upon love, for both of the women. Charlotte never marries and Delia marries for money. Secondly, Delia's jealousy poisons Charlotte's attempt to create a new life, after Charlotte has given birth to a child out of wedlock. Finally, their feelings for Tina, Charlotte's daughter, whom Delia raises as her own daughter, drive the women farther apart rather than closer together. Tina does not love her true mother as much as her false mother Delia, because she believes that Charlotte is just an old maid, not a woman who scarified everything for her happiness. Tina never learns the truth

At the beginning of The Old Maid, both of the cousins Charlotte and Delia are in love with the same man, Clem Spender. Delia marries James Ralston, a man she does not love, because he is wealthy and powerful. Charlotte is less concerned with status and money, however, and before Clem is about to go off to war, she gives up her virginity to Clem, simply so he can be happy before he leaves. This thoughtless, careless action destroys Charlotte's entire life. Charlotte becomes pregnant, but because her society looks so unfavorably at unwed mothers, she must not even tell her own child, named Tina, that she is Tina's real mother. She allows Tina to think that she is an orphan rather than illegitimate, making ultimate sacrifice for the daughter she loves.

Delia, in the meantime, has created a comfortable existence for herself as a wealthy wife. In penance for her past 'sins,' Charlotte first decides to devote herself to good works, but does finds happiness in her engagement to her sister's brother-in-law Jim. However, once again Delia poisons Charlotte's future because she cannot bear to see Charlotte happy, or to be her equal, married into a well-off family. Delia lies to Charlotte's fiancee, on Charlotte's wedding night, telling him that Charlotte is ill and should never marry. Delia tells this lie to Jim, so he will not reveal the reason why he is abandoning Charlotte. Charlotte is angry at this act of cruelty. However, Charlotte is so forgiving that she agrees to help Delia and Delia's own children after James is killed. Delia asks Charlotte and Tina to move in with her and her children. Tina, who has lived in an orphanage for most of her life, where Charlotte has been working, eagerly agrees.

But for this kindness, the cruelest act of jealousy takes place. Delia turns Tina, Charlotte's child against the girl's own, true mother. Tina loves the apparently kind Delia more than the depressed old maid Charlotte. Eventually Delia offers to adopt the 'foundling' so Tina can have a good marriage and a place in society, which makes Tina even more grateful. Charlotte does not reveal the truth, for the sake of her daughter, and does not even say anything on Tina's wedding-night, in contrast to the cruel actions of Delia.