The Mother Superior’s Twenty-Five Francs (Maupassant)

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Guy de Maupassant

The Mother Superior’s Twenty-Five Francs

Summary of the Short Story

Microsummary: A clumsy, comical peasant broke his leg twice, first while working on a farm and then during a drunken escapade, and was treated at a hospital where he entertained the staff and patients.

Pavilly, a comical and mischievous peasant, was well-known for his ability to make people laugh. Well, towards the end of June, he undertook to help with the harvest, at Le Hariveau’s, near Rouville.

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Pavilly — peasant; comical, clumsy, and entertaining; long arms, pointed beard, and red hair.

One day, while working on a farm, he fell and broke his leg. The generous farmer paid for Pavilly's treatment at the hospital, where he quickly became a favorite of the nuns due to his entertaining antics. The Mother Superior even offered to let him stay longer to sing in the chapel and serve at Mass.

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The Mother Superior — head of the hospital; fond of Pavilly; compassionate and understanding.

The Mother Superior, by way of thanking him, made him a present of twenty-five francs.

The Mother Superior, by way of thanking him, made him a present of twenty-five francs.

When Pavilly was finally discharged, he received twenty-five francs as a token of gratitude. He decided to celebrate by getting drunk and visiting a brothel. At the brothel, he got into an argument with a woman and, in his drunken state, fell and broke his other leg. The brothel owner, fearing a scandal, sent Pavilly back to the hospital and paid for his treatment.

Upon his return, the Mother Superior was both saddened and amused by Pavilly's misfortune. It's not my fault … not my fault. … It was a straw mattress did it.

It's not my fault … not my fault. … It was a straw mattress did it.

She never discovered that her gift of twenty-five francs had led to his second injury.