The Sister of the Baroness by Katherine Mansfield

A young woman visiting a German pension meets the sister of a baroness—an eccentric, lively woman who dominates conversation with stories of her famous relatives. The narrator observes her with both amusement and discomfort, sensing the desperate performance beneath the surface. The plot centers on a brief social interaction but reveals deep truths about class, identity, and loneliness. Mansfield blends satire with empathy. It’s a sharp portrait of self-delusion and the need for recognition.