human
Something is amiss, said the abbess, assuming the look of calmness with which she was wont to await bad news.
gpt
What has happened to alarm you, my daughter?
human
There is a message, reverend mother, said the breathless nun,
gpt
She shall be welcome,
human
So this is our calamity!
gpt
There is calamity at hand, assuredly, sighed sister Benoite.
human
Nay, nay, my daughter. This is superstition,
gpt
Whatever it be, reverend mother, do we not all, does not every one quake when Madame Oge comes abroad?
human
It is but seldom that she does, said the abbess,
gpt
But seldom, indeed, reverend mother. When all goes well--when the crops are fine, and the island all at peace, no one hears of Madame Oge. She keeps within her coffee-groves--
human
Mourning her sons, interposed the abbess.
gpt
But, continued the nun,
human
That was an accident, said the abbess, smiling.
gpt
Then you think it is not by accident that she always comes out before misfortunes happen?
human
By no means, my dear. It is easily explained. Madame Oge looks upon her sons as martyrs in the cause of the mulattoes. When all goes well, as all has done, under L'Ouverture's rule, with only a few occasional troubles--fewer and slighter than might have been expected during such a change in society as we have witnessed--when all goes well, Madame Oge feels that her sons are forgotten; and, as my daughter Benoite says, she mourns them alone in the shades of her coffee-groves. She seems, however, to have means of information which persons less interested have not: and when she has reason to believe that troubles will ensue, she hopes that the names of her sons will once more be a watchword, for the humiliation of both blacks and whites; and she comes forth with her hungry maternal heart, and her quick maternal ear, to catch the first echo of the names which are for ever mingled with her prayers.
gpt
Can she mingle those names with her prayers, and yet not forgive?
human
My child, is it not so with us all? Do we not pray for our enemies, and ask to be forgiven as we forgive, and come out from our closets with ears open to the fresh slanders of the day, and hearts ready to burn at the thought of old injuries? It might be well for us, if we had the excuse of this wretched woman, whose woes have been such as might naturally have shaken her reason, and prostrated her will. If there be any above others with whom God will be long suffering, it is with the mother whose children have been torn from her arms to be tortured and destroyed, and their very names made a term of reproach.
gpt
You think something is going to happen?
human
As my daughter Benoite says, on one occasion there was a hurricane. To-morrow the sun may rise, or there may be a cloud in the sky.
gpt
Nay, but--
human
Nay, but, said the abbess, smiling,
gpt
I will have nothing said which shall make Euphrosyne look upon my guest as a sorceress, or as the instrument of any evil one. I wish all my daughters to meet Madame Oge with cheerfulness. It is the best I have to offer her,--the cheerfulness of my family; and that of which she has least at home. You hear, Euphrosyne?
human
Madam, you do not mean that I am to see her. Indeed I cannot,--indeed I dare not. It is no disrespect--quite the contrary. But I could not hold up my head before one who--
gpt
Poor Madame Oge, if all said so!
human
That is true, said Euphrosyne.
gpt
I will be there: but, dear mother, do not speak particularly to me. Do not draw her attention upon me.
human
I will not, my dear.
gpt
Do you think she will speak angrily of the Ouvertures? I hope she will say nothing about poor General Moyse.
human
You must hear what she says, be it what it may.
gpt
True. And it is only for one evening. But I wish it was over. I shall be glad when to-morrow morning is come, and I shall be in this alley again.
human
Meantime, my dear, you have been long enough here for this morning. Let us go in.