The Reverend Mother's introductions complete, the ladies at Aksinya and Natalya's table may now address them. Notice that correct protocol has not been completed. The ladies should now appropriately introduce themselves to Aksinya and Natalya. Aksinya is forgiving, Natalya not so much...
Around Aksinya and Natalya’s table sat seven other young women who were from sixteen to twenty-one years old plus an elderly nun. The sister watched Aksinya and Natalya with as rapped an expression as the girls.
After the soup was served, one of the older girls asked in French, “Are you really a Countess?”
Natalya almost leaped out of her seat, “What do you mean asking such a question? My mistress is the Countess Golitsyna.”
Aksinya pulled Natalya back into her seat, “I am the Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna. You may call me Aksinya if you wish. This is the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. I insist you address her as the Lady Natalya. She is my friend and confidant. She is also the daughter of a Prince.”
Natalya sucked her lip and stared back at Aksinya, “And the Countess is the daughter of a Princess and a Count. She…she…rescued me.”
“Hush, Lady Natalya.”
Aksinya gave the ladies a second chance to introduce themselves, but they didn't take it. Aksinya makes her confidence in Natalya very clear--friend and confidant. She also gives them leave to call her by her first name, a bit of latitude they would never be low enough to take. She insists they address Natalya as Lady Natalya. She demands respect for Natalya, but not herself.
Notice, that Aksinya then throws down the gauntlet. She tells them Natalya's rank--she is the daughter of a Prince. Natalya knew this. Earlier, the demon led us to believe that Natalya didn't know who her father was--he left the answer ambivalent. Now we know that she knows this. We also get a repeat of an important point. Aksinya is the daughter of a Russian princess.
Then the confession: she rescued me. This is never far from Natalya's mind and should never be far from ours. I reminded you because I don't want you to forget--it's like Aksinya's hair.
Aksinya's response a gentle, hush. Aksinya realizes what is in Natalya's mind, or she thinks she does.
I just finished writing the pivotal scene in the novel. It happens in chapter 15. It is chapter 15. I've been thinking about this scene and driving toward it for weeks. I have many notes that I must now resolve with it and improve it. It is specifically the scene that will lead to the resolution of the novel.
Showing posts with label protocol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label protocol. Show all posts
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
A New Novel, Part 62 The Introductions
So now Natalya has been convinced to sit and eat with the other ladies. We see the introduction of the two new students to the school.
At that word, Natalya sat upright. She covered her face with her napkin for a moment then sighed and laid it in her lap.
Aksinya smiled. The Reverend Mother smiled, “That’s much more pleasant, Lady Natalya. Thank you.”
Under the eyes of the whole room, the Reverend Mother made her way back to the head table. She stood in front of her chair and raised her arms, “Ladies, may I have your attention. Today, we accepted two new students to Sacré Coeur. They are very special students. May I introduce to you the Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna. She is the niece of the Freiherr and Freifrau Bockmann. Freifrau Bockmann is an alum of Sacré Coeur. The Countess is sitting at the older scholar’s table. Please make her welcome when you have the opportunity. Accompanying the countess is her lady-in-waiting, the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. The Lady Natalya is not used to our informality. She is very uncomfortable with our egalitarian ways. Please help her to become familiar with our community. She doesn’t speak German, so you must use your French to good effect.”
Aksinya explained the Reverend Mother’s words to Natalya. Natalya colored and again hid her face.
The Reverend Mother said a prayer and everyone crossed themselves. Then she sat in her high backed chair and the novice sisters began to serve the meal.
So the RM introduces Aksinya and Natalya. This is a simple and basic thing to understand. In this period, the introduction was necessary and critical to social interaction. You were not supposed to converse with another without an introduction. The RM's general introduction provides this service for the school and for the new students.
The RM goes on to explain a little about Aksinya and then about Natalya. Do you note the RM's equivocation. It is done just for Natalya. She tells the school to help Natalya understand their egalitarian ways--the school is not egalitarian or informal, it is just the opposite. They hold to a protocol that is just as strong as the Russian court. The point is that the school and the students must uphold their honor and their position before the Countess and her lady-in-waiting. They are both higher in position than the other ladies. Therefore, the RM explains that they will rise to the level of Aksinya and Natalya and she asks them to accept their ways--not informal at all.
The reason Natalya colored is that she was acknowledged at all. Part of the joke is that they have a French name, Sacré Coeur, and they teach French, so they should be speaking French.
The transition to the meal is the prayer--did you expect anything else in a convent school?
At that word, Natalya sat upright. She covered her face with her napkin for a moment then sighed and laid it in her lap.
Aksinya smiled. The Reverend Mother smiled, “That’s much more pleasant, Lady Natalya. Thank you.”
Under the eyes of the whole room, the Reverend Mother made her way back to the head table. She stood in front of her chair and raised her arms, “Ladies, may I have your attention. Today, we accepted two new students to Sacré Coeur. They are very special students. May I introduce to you the Countess Aksinya Andreiovna Golitsyna. She is the niece of the Freiherr and Freifrau Bockmann. Freifrau Bockmann is an alum of Sacré Coeur. The Countess is sitting at the older scholar’s table. Please make her welcome when you have the opportunity. Accompanying the countess is her lady-in-waiting, the Lady Natalya Alexandrovna Obolenska. The Lady Natalya is not used to our informality. She is very uncomfortable with our egalitarian ways. Please help her to become familiar with our community. She doesn’t speak German, so you must use your French to good effect.”
Aksinya explained the Reverend Mother’s words to Natalya. Natalya colored and again hid her face.
The Reverend Mother said a prayer and everyone crossed themselves. Then she sat in her high backed chair and the novice sisters began to serve the meal.
So the RM introduces Aksinya and Natalya. This is a simple and basic thing to understand. In this period, the introduction was necessary and critical to social interaction. You were not supposed to converse with another without an introduction. The RM's general introduction provides this service for the school and for the new students.
The RM goes on to explain a little about Aksinya and then about Natalya. Do you note the RM's equivocation. It is done just for Natalya. She tells the school to help Natalya understand their egalitarian ways--the school is not egalitarian or informal, it is just the opposite. They hold to a protocol that is just as strong as the Russian court. The point is that the school and the students must uphold their honor and their position before the Countess and her lady-in-waiting. They are both higher in position than the other ladies. Therefore, the RM explains that they will rise to the level of Aksinya and Natalya and she asks them to accept their ways--not informal at all.
The reason Natalya colored is that she was acknowledged at all. Part of the joke is that they have a French name, Sacré Coeur, and they teach French, so they should be speaking French.
The transition to the meal is the prayer--did you expect anything else in a convent school?
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