Page "The Well of Loneliness" Paragraph 8

Stephen's father, Sir Phillip, dotes on her ; he seeks to understand her through the writings of Karl Heinrich Ulrichs, the first modern writer to propose a theory of homosexuality, but does not share his findings with Stephen.

Her mother, Lady Anna, is distant, seeing Stephen as a " blemished, unworthy, maimed reproduction " of Sir Phillip.

At eighteen, Stephen forms a close friendship with a Canadian man, Martin Hallam, but is horrified when he declares his love for her.

The following winter, Sir Phillip is crushed by a falling tree ; at the last moment he tries to explain to Lady Anna that Stephen is an invert, but dies without managing to do so.