“Of course Sister Laura saw the trousseau?”
But Laura made feint not to hear.
Discipline relaxed, a number of nuns had collected provisions and were picnicking in the window, where Sister Innez (an ex-Repertoire actress) was giving some spirited renderings of her chief successful parts—Jane de Simerose, Frou-Frou, Sappho, Cigarette....
“My darling child! I always sleep all day and only revive when there’s a Man,” she was saying with an impudent look, sending the scandalised Sisters into delighted convulsions.
Unable to endure it any longer, Laura crept away.
A desire for air and solitude, led her towards the Recreation ground. After the hot refectory, sauntering in the silken shade of the old astounding cedars, was delightful quite. In the deserted alleys, the golden blossoms of the censia-trees, unable to resist the sun, littered in perfumed piles the ground, overcoming her before long with a sensation akin to vertige. Anxious to find her friend, Laura turned towards her cell.
She found Sister Ursula leaning on her window-ledge all crouched up—like a Duchess on “a First Night.”
“My dear, my dear, the crowds!”
“Ursula?”
“Yes, what is it?”