Aurore l'enfant martyre

Act 1, Scene 5, p. 174 to 180.

MOTHER
Ah! It’s you, Father. Please come in.

PRIEST
Hello, my friends.

MOTHER
(To Aurore.) Come now, bring Father a chair. Show him that you’re a little girl who’s well brought up. (Aurore brings a chair over to the parish priest.)

PARISH PRIEST
And where are the other children?

MOTHER
At school.

PARISH PRIEST
Aurore, why is it you don’t come to church anymore?

AURORE
I don’t go to church (She looks at the mother) because...

MOTHER
She’s not very strong.

PARISH PRIEST
You’re so pale. Are you sick?

AURORE
No... Father.

MOTHER
She’s growing. She’s grown so much, this little darling. But she’s so pampered, so spoiled. And she doesn’t work. She gets up when she feels like it. Rather than see her get tired, I prefer to spend my nights working.

AURORE
It’s true, Father.

MOTHER
She’s not pious.

PARISH PRIEST
Since I’m here, so you want to say your confession?

AURORE
Say my confession!

MOTHER
(Aside.) What does he think he’s doing, that one?

PARISH PRIEST
Tell me, do you want to?

AURORE
Yes I do, Father.

MOTHER
(Aside.) She’s going to tell him everything.

TÉLESPHORE
C’mon woman. (He starts leading her out.)

MOTHER
I’d like to stay and listen.

TÉLESPHORE
C’mon, I don’t want this on my conscience.

The mother and Télesphore leave. The parish priest sits down and Aurore kneels at his feet.

PARISH PRIEST
Do your parents take good care of you?

AURORE
My father sometimes...

MOTHER
And your stepmother?

AURORE
My stepmother... she beats me.

PARISH PRIEST
Often?

AURORE
Every day, Father, and sometimes many times a day.

PARISH PRIEST
And your father?

AURORE
My father? He had just finished giving me a whipping when you came in.

PARISH PRIEST
That’s why you were crying?

AURORE
Oh yes, Father. I cried a lot. But if that was only all.

PARISH PRIEST
Come now, talk.

Very soft music: 'Le Rosaire' (the Rosary), on the organ.

AURORE
My stepmother makes me drink lye and eat soap. She burns my hands with a red-hot iron. I have marks all over my body where she hit me.

PARISH PRIEST
Oh! The hag!

AURORE
Sometimes I hurt so much, Father, that I feel that I am going and that my soul will leave the earth for good.

PARISH PRIEST
No! No! That won’t happen.

AURORE
Don’t tell anyone what I told you, Father.

PARISH PRIEST
Have no fear, dear child, and trust me: I will find a way to save you.

AURORE
Oh yes, Father, please save me soon! Soon! I have no strength left.

PARISH PRIEST
Remember, you must have great faith in God. (He blesses her and helps her to get up. To the parents:) Come, my friends.

TÉLESPHORE
What do you think, Father?

PARISH PRIEST
Télesphore, your daughter is very ill, gravely ill!

TÉLESPHORE
You think so, Father?

PARISH PRIEST
I’m positive! She can barely stand up. As I listened to her short confession, earlier, I observed her closely: her sunken eyes, her thin face, her faltering voice--they’re undeniable! She is seriously ill, she must be seen by a doctor without delay. If she were to die due to neglect, you would have a crime on your conscience. As for you, Madame, be good to her. I know she’s not your child, but in marrying the father, you have made her your child and you owe her your love. In fact, I noted earlier, by your kind words, the extent of your devotion to her.

MOTHER
You can count on me, Father.

PARISH PRIEST
(To Aurore.) Don’t be discouraged. Remember your prayers to God. He will help you. (To Télesphore.) As for you, don’t forget my recommendations.

TÉLESPHORE
I won’t forget, Father. Since you’re going up that way, maybe I could go along with you. I have business there.

PARISH PRIEST
Of course, come with me. Goodbye, Madame.

MOTHER
Goodbye, Father.

The parish priest and the father leave.

MOTHER
(To Aurore.) You talked, you!

AURORE
No!

MOTHER
Liar! You talked, I tell you!

AURORE
No!

MOTHER
What did you say? Tell me! I want to know!

AURORE
The truth!

MOTHER
The truth! Well, you’ll never talk again. I’m going to burn your tongue!

Aurore cries in pain.

CURTAIN