It is curious how little interested we are in the sexual desires of those who do not attract us.

She was dull, unattractive, couldn’t tell the time, count money or tie her own shoe laces… But I loved her

Her eyes, always sad, now looked into the mirror with particular hopelessness. “She’s flattering me,” thought the princess, and she turned away and went on reading. Julie, however, was not flattering her friend: indeed, the...