My Double Life: The Memoirs of Sarah Bernhardt — John Shaqi
My Double Life: The Memoirs of Sarah BernhardtBernhardt, Sarah
General
My Double Life: The Memoirs of Sarah Bernhardt
Bernhardt, Sarah
Actors -- France -- Biography; Bernhardt, Sarah, 1844-1923
In obedience to the signal given we all rose from our knees. We then
went to the chapel, where a short Mass was celebrated, after which we
had an hour’s recreation. The concert was to commence at half-past one.
The recreation hour was devoted to preparing the large room and to
getting ready to appear before Monseigneur. I wore the angel’s long
robe, with a blue sash round my waist and two paper wings fastened on
with narrow blue straps that crossed over each other in front. Round my
head was a band of gold braid fastening behind. I kept mumbling my
“part,” for in those days we did not know the word _rôle_. People are
more familiar with the stage nowadays, but at the convent we always said
“part,” and years afterwards I was surprised, the first time I played in
England, to hear a young English girl say, “Oh, what a fine part you had
in _Hernani_!”
The room looked beautiful, oh, so beautiful! There were festoons of
green leaves, with paper flowers at intervals, everywhere. Then there
were little lustres hung about with gold cord. A wide piece of red
velvet carpet was laid down from the door to Monseigneur’s arm-chair,
upon which were two cushions of red velvet with gold fringe.
I thought all these horrors very fine, very beautiful!
The concert began, and it seemed to me that everything went very well.
Monseigneur, however, could not help smiling at the sight of César, and
it was he who led the applause when the dog died. It was César, in fact,
who made the greatest success, but we were nevertheless sent for to
appear before Monseigneur Sibour. He was certainly the kindest and most
charming of prelates, and on this occasion he gave to each of us a
consecrated medal.
When my turn came he took my hand in his and said, “It is you, my child,
who are not baptized, is it not?”
“Yes, Reverend Father, yes, Monseigneur,” I replied in confusion.
“She is to be baptized this spring,” said the Mother Superior. “Her
father is coming back specially from a very distant country.”
She and Monseigneur then said a few words to each other in a very low
voice.
“Very well; if I can, I will come again for the ceremony,” said the
Archbishop aloud. I was trembling with emotion and pride as I kissed the
old man’s ring. I then ran away to the dormitory and cried for a long
time. I was found there later on, fast asleep from exhaustion.
From that day forth I was a better child, more studious and less
violent. In my fits of anger I was calmed by the mention of Monseigneur
Sibour’s name, and reminded of his promise to come for my baptism.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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