Louis Couperus

Name: Old People and the Things that Pass — Chapter XIII
Author: Louis Couperus

Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

Summary

“Old People and the Things that Pass — Chapter XIII”, published in 1919, is a work by Louis Couperus. It explores elements such as Elly, Aunt Thérèse and Theo.

Quotes from Old People and the Things that Pass… (Louis Couperus)

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ She folded her thin hands in her lap; and their fingers were slender and wand-like, like Grandmamma's. Her voice sounded like Grandmamma's. As she sat there, in her black gown, in the pale light of that convent-parlour, permeated with a chilliness that was likewise pale, the resemblance was terrifying: this daughter appeared to be one and the same as her mother, seemed to be that mother herself; and it was as though bygone years had returned in a wonderful, haunting, pale, white light.
"And how are they all at the Hague?" asked Aunt Thérèse. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ The chant of a litany came from the chapel, which occupied a larger room opposite the little parlour.
They met the reverend mother in the passage; she was on her way to the chapel:
"How did you find your aunt?" she whispered. "Going to extremes, I expect: yes, she does go to extremes. Look! ..."
And she made Elly, Lot and Theo peep through the door of the chapel. The sisters, kneeling on the praying-chairs, were chanting their prayers. On the floor, between the chairs, lay Aunt Thérèse, prostrate at full length, with her face hidden in her hands.
"Look!" said the reverend mother, with a frown. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ She knew. Aunt Thérèse knew. And she prayed, she always prayed. Never could too many prayers rise to Heaven to implore mercy.
"Mamma," said Theo, "the reverend mother told me that you have fainted in chapel And that you don't eat."
"Yes, I eat, I eat," said Aunt Thérèse, softly and slowly. "Don't make yourself uneasy, Theo." ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ Madame will be here at once."
"Is Mamma quite well?" asked Theo. "I haven't seen her ... for some time."
"She's very well," said the reverend mother. "Because we look after her."
"I know you do."
"She won't look after herself. As you know, she goes to extremes. Le bon Dieu doesn't expect us to go to such extremes as madame does. I don't pray a quarter as much as madame. Madame is always praying. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ And the knowledge had given a permanent shock to her nervous and highly-strung soul; and, after being the Creole, the woman of passionate love and hatred, the woman of adventures, the woman who loved and afterwards hated those whom she had loved, she had sunk herself in contemplation, had bathed in ecstasy, which shone down upon her from the celestial panes of the church-windows; and one day, in Paris, she had gone to a priest and said:
"Father, I want to pray. I feel drawn towards your faith. I wish to become a Catholic. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ Elly, that chicken has been turning for fifteen years! And last night, at the Theatre Frangais, I had a shock, just as I did to-day at the Venus of Milo. The Theatre Français had grown so old, so old, with that dreadful ranting, that I asked myself, 'Was it always so old, or do I think it old because I am older myself?' ..."
"But Aunt Thérèse ..."
"So you insist on going to her.... Really, we'd better not. She too has grown old; and what are we to her? ... We are young still.... I also am young still, am I not? ... You don't think me too old, your blase husband? ... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ We have our work; I have my nursing-institute, which keeps us very busy. At this moment, nearly all the sisters are out nursing. Then I have my servants' registry-office. We can't always be praying."
"Mamma can," said Theo, with a laugh.
"Madame prays too much" said the reverend mother. "Madame is an enthousiaste ..."
"Always was, in everything she did," said Theo, staring in front of him.
"And she has remained so. She is an enthousiaste in her new creed, in our religion. But she oughn't to go to extremes ... or to fast unnecessarily. ... The other day we found her fainting in the chapel.... ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ A sensuality ever seeking physical enjoyment surrounded him as with a warm atmosphere, jovial and engaging, as though he would invite them presently to come and have a nice lunch with him in a good restaurant and to go on somewhere afterwards. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ What saddens me is the old people and the old things that are still alive and ever so old and have gradually, gradually gone past us; but things which are restfully dead and which are so exquisitely beautiful as in Italy, they don't sadden me: they calm me and rouse my admiration for everything that was once so beautifully alive and is still so beautiful in death. Paris saddens me, because the city is dying, as all France is ”

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Source: Wikisource

Louis Couperus, Old People and the Things that Pass… (1919)

“ But I am very, very fond of her ... and I pray, I often pray for her. She needs it. We all need it. I pray for all of them ... for all the family. They all need it. And I also pray for Mamma, for Grandmamma. And, Elly, I pray for Grandpapa too. ... I have been praying now for years, I have been praying for quite thirty years. God is sure to hear my prayers.... "
It was difficult to say anything; and Elly merely took Aunt's hand and pressed it. Aunt Thérèse lifted Elly's face a little by the chin, looked at it attentively, then looked at Lot. ”

Louis Couperus

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