# In and Out of Old Natchitoches explained — Short Fiction > Chapter companion for Short Fiction by Kate Chopin. ## What happens Alphonse Laballière, a newcomer to Natchitoches parish, crosses paths with Mademoiselle Suzanne St. Denys Godolph, the local schoolteacher. Laballière, who has been living among free mulattoes while renovating his plantation, is the subject of gossip. He brings a free mulatto boy, André Giestin, to Suzanne's school, leading to a confrontation. Suzanne resigns in protest. Later, her cousin Hector Santien arrives and whisks her away to New Orleans, where she boards with Maman Chavan. Hector visits regularly, and their relationship is marked by flirtation and tension. ## Themes in this chapter ### Social Class and Identity Laballière's association with free mulattoes challenges racial and social boundaries, leading to gossip and conflict with Suzanne, who upholds strict racial divisions in her school. ### Gender Roles and Independence Suzanne's role as a schoolteacher and her assertive resignation demonstrate her independence, while her move to New Orleans under Hector's protection reflects the constraints of female dependence. ### Freedom and Confinement Suzanne is confined by societal expectations and her mother's poverty, but her journey to New Orleans offers a taste of freedom, though she remains under Hector's watch. ## Character check-ins ### Suzanne St. Denys Godolph The schoolteacher who crosses the trestle daily; she resigns after Laballière brings a free mulatto boy to her school. ### Alphonse Laballière New cotton planter in Natchitoches; he is the subject of gossip for associating with free mulattoes and provokes Suzanne by enrolling André Giestin. ### Hector Santien Suzanne's elegant cousin who escorts her to New Orleans and arranges her lodging with Maman Chavan. ### Madame Delisle Suzanne's mother, referred to as 'old Madame St. Denys Godolph'; she is hoarding her land and sends love messages to Hector. ### Alcée Laballière Alphonse's brother, who has a talent for sugar and rice cultivation. ## Key lines > Precisely at eight o’clock every morning except Saturdays and Sundays, Mademoiselle Suzanne St. Denys Godolph would cross the railroad trestle that spanned Bayou Boispourri. Every weekday morning at eight, Suzanne St. Denys Godolph walked across the railroad bridge over Bayou Boispourri. _Establishes Suzanne's daily routine and the setting._ > He established himself with a few belongings in the best cabin he could find on the place, and, without further ado, proceeded to supervise the building of house, of gin, of this, that, and the other, and to look into the hundred details that go to set a neglected plantation in good working order. Laballière moved into the best available cabin and began overseeing the construction of a house, gin, and other necessities to restore the run-down plantation. _Shows Laballière's practical approach to his new life._ > “Then, Monsieur,” she interrupted, “permit me to remine you that you have made a se’ious mistake. This is not a school conducted fo’ the education of the colored population. You will have to go elsew’ere with yo’ protégé.” Suzanne told Laballière that her school was not for educating people of color and that he should take his student elsewhere. _Highlights the racial segregation of the era and Suzanne's adherence to it._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_33_se/chapters/in-and-out-of-old-natchitoches - Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_33_se - All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/short_fiction_33_se/chapters