Act 5 — SCENE I.
Charles Renauld translation
MOTHER MARGARET, SISTER MARTHA, SISTER CLAIRE, other SISTERS.
SISTER MARTHA (to Mother Margaret).
Sister Claire looked at herself twice in the mirror.
MOTHER MARGARET (to Sister Claire).
That was very wrong!
SISTER CLAIRE.
But Sister Martha pulled a plum out of the pie this morning; I saw her do it.
MOTHER MARGARET (to Sister Martha).
Very wrong, indeed, Sister Martha!
SISTER CLAIRE.
A little bit of a look!
SISTER MARTHA.
A little bit of a plum!
MOTHER MARGARET.
I'll have to tell Mr. Cyrano.
SISTER CLAIRE (frightened).
Oh! please, do not, he would tease us!....
SISTER MARTHA.
.... Say that we are vain!....
SISTER CLAIRE.
.... Or great gluttons!....
MOTHER MARGARET (smiling).
But full of goodness.
SISTER CLAIRE.
Is it not true, Mother, that he has been coming here, every Saturday, for the last ten years?
MOTHER MARGARET.
And more. Ever since his cousin, fourteen years ago, saddened the whiteness of our caps with the darkness of her widow's veil, as would a bird of sombre hue alighting 'mid a flight of brighter birds.
SISTER MARTHA.
And he alone can relieve with a ray of light the grief that she persists in feeding.
THE OTHER SISTERS.
He is so entertaining!—It is fun when he comes!—He teases us!—He is so kind!—We love him so!—And we make sweets for him!
SISTER MARTHA.
But he is not a very good Catholic!
SISTER CLAIRE.
We'll convert him!
THE OTHER SISTERS.
Assuredly, we will!
MOTHER MARGARET.
I forbid your tormenting him on that score, children. He might come here less often?
SISTER MARTHA.
But.... dear Mother.... God....
MOTHER MARGARET.
Have no fear.... God knows him!
SISTER MARTHA.
But, every Saturday, as he enters, he says proudly: "Sister, like a bad Catholic, I ate meat yesterday!"
MOTHER MARGARET.
Is that what he says? Well, the last time he came he had eaten nothing whatever for two days.
SISTER MARTHA.
Mother!
MOTHER MARGARET.
He is very poor. Mr. Le Bret told me so.
SISTER MARTHA.
And no one assists him!
MOTHER MARGARET.
He is proud and would not accept assistance.
(Roxane is seen in the rear; she is in black, wearing the long veil of a widow. Guiche, grown older, but magnificently clad, accompanies her. They walk slowly, Mother Margaret rises.)
Come, it is time to get in.—Here is Madam Madeleine, with a visitor.
SISTER MARTHA (aside to Sister Claire).
It is the Marshall—Duke de Grammont.
SISTER CLAIRE.
Yes, I think it is.
SISTER MARTHA.
He has not come to see her for months!
SISTER CLAIRE.
The court—the army—the world—keep him away, I suppose.
(Exeunt Sisters. Guiche and Roxane come down in silence, and stop near the tapestry frame. A pause.)