Her significant other finagles a welcome to one of the well off gatherings Mathilde aches to go to, and when Mathilde refuses, saying she doesn't have anything to wear, he helps her buy a costly dress.
Mathilde is baffled by her absence of gems; she obtains an excessive precious stone jewelry from her companion Madame Forestier.
Mathilde hosts a great time at the gathering, yet a while later finds the precious stone jewelry is lost. The couple spend their legacy and take out advances to replace it.
After years living in penury and obligation that destroy Mathilde's looks, Mathilde keeps