Suzette, Chapters 1 through 5 Summary

As the story opens in 1834, Suzette has been slapped by Madame Francoise Derbanne, the mistress of Rosedew, the plantation house where Suzette works as a slave. Francoise chastises Suzette's mother, Elisabeth, saying that the Madame's husband had become ill the last time Elisabeth had prepared a particular dish. Suzette speaks up, saying that it wasn't her mother's cooking that had caused the master's illness but his excessive drinking. Francoise slaps Suzette sharply. The following morning, before the rest of the household is awake, Suzette slips from her place in the house and pees on Francoise's favorite roses. Suzette is nursemaid to Francoise's niece, Oreline. The two girls are the same age and Suzette has lived most of her life in the house rather than having lived with the slaves in the quarter. She has the opportunity to go to...