The Cost of Sugar(21)

She must talk with Rutger about this, but didn’t know how. But there must be some way for a wife to talk with her own husband.

That Sarith! Why couldn’t something happen to make her clear off back to the Hébron Plantation or somewhere else. Elza actually did think that there was someone else in the house who knew precisely what was going on: this was Maisa. She had noticed the way Maisa sometimes shook her head as Sarith entered the room, or the way Maisa looked at Sarith when she was excitedly recounting something. If only she could talk with Maisa about this. She wanted so much to be able to fling her arms around Maisa, weep copiously on her shoulder and feel the dear, comforting hand over her head that she had so often felt as a child, when she had gone to Maisa or Ashana with all her sorrows. But now she was a lady, and had to behave with propriety. And above all, how would she talk about such a difficult subject? She knew, too, that Maisa would never initiate a conversation about this. Some things were the subject of an unwritten code, and a slave would never begin to talk about a delicate matter, even if she had breast-fed her mistress and had cared for her as a mother from birth onwards.

Elza sighed, then heard a commotion and voices at the front door and the excited voice of Amimba, who had opened the door, and there in the dining room stood her father.

“Oh papa,” Elza threw her arms round his neck, “Dear papa,” and, feeling the tears welling in her eyes, said to herself, “Don’t cry: he mustn’t notice anything.” To avoid his seeing her face she went quickly to the rear veranda, where she dried her tears and called, “Maisa, Maisa, come now, papa is here.”

Maisa, too, was happy to see the masra. How was everyone, how was Ashana? And papa told them that Ashana missed them both a lot and complained daily that the house was so dull now all the children were away. Amimba and Mini-mini had to know, too, that their mothers were doing well and sent their love.

“Where’s Sarith?” asked papa eventually, and when Elza told him that she was still asleep, papa remarked with a laugh that he had thought that in a town with so many diversions Sarith would be up early. He had a message for Sarith. Her mother wanted her back home. She was expecting a lodger on the plantation very shortly. Even Pa Levi was in the town for only two days. He had arrived yesterday afternoon and would return the next day.

Mini-mini was sent upstairs by Elza to report that she was awaited down below. When Sarith appeared half an hour later and had greeted Uncle Levi sweetly, he told her that her mother wanted her at Hébron. In a few days’ time the new Jewish teacher, Abraham Cohen, would come to lodge with them. A few weeks earlier, on his way to Joden-Savanna, he had already spent a good week at Hébron and had then enquired after Sarith. On the return journey from Joden-Savanna to Paramaribo he would be their guest again for five days or so. Sarith declared that she would certainly like to return to Hébron if Abraham Cohen was going to stay there. Hadn’t he got bored when he had stayed there a whole week with no-one to keep him company?

“Rebecca was there, you know,” father Levi replied.

“Rebecca,” Sarith sneered, as if to make it clear that Rebecca didn’t count.

Elza closed her eyes briefly. What a relief! Sarith was leaving. What a deliverance! Of course papa stayed for lunch, and Maisa went to the kitchen in the grounds to tell Lena that she would have to cook a little more because the misi’s father had arrived.

Rutger came home from the office at half past twelve and found to his surprise that his father-in-law was there. When he heard that Sarith would be leaving he said what a pity that was and how they would miss her. Like a bad toothache, thought Elza. Father thought that it would be better for Sarith to go with him immediately after lunch to Esther’s house, since they would have to leave at seven the following morning. But Sarith protested. No, that was impossible. There was so much to pack and she must ensure that Mini-mini forgot nothing. Rutger also protested. No, Sarith must still sleep here tonight and he would himself ensure that she was there at the Platte Brug at seven the next morning together with Mini-mini and all her luggage. That evening everyone went to bed early. After all, the peace had been disturbed by father’s visit, and everyone would have to be up very early the next morning.

When Elza lay next to her husband in the large bed, she thought that it would after all be better to say nothing. Everything had solved itself. Sarith was leaving. Rutger would be hers again. Thank God!





SARITH


Sarith was very quiet during the long journey to the Hébron Plantation. Fortunately, Uncle Levi had other company: a new white officer, destined for a nearby plantation, travelled along with him. He was completely new to the colony and Uncle Levi could tell him everything.