"
Two good results followed the ready rendering of the help I had
asked from my host's daughters. I succeeded with my portrait of
Mademoiselle Clairfait, and I heard the story which occupies the
following pages.
In the case of the preceding narratives, I have repeated what was
related to me, as nearly as possible in the very words of my
sitters. In the case of this third story, it is impossible for me
to proceed upon the same plan. The circumstances of "Sister
Rose's" eventful history were narrated to me at different times,
and in the most fragmentary and discursive manner. Mademoiselle
Clairfait characteristically mixed up with the direct interest of
her story, not only references to places and people which had no
recognizable connection with it, but outbursts of passionate
political declamation, on the extreme liberal side--to say
nothing of little tender apostrophes to her beloved friend, which
sounded very prettily as she spoke them, but which would lose
their effect altogether by being transferred to paper. Under
these circumstances, I have thought it best to tell the story in
my own way--rigidly adhering to the events of it exactly as they
were related; and never interfering on my own responsibility
except to keep order in the march of the incidents, and to
present them, to the best of my ability, variously as well as
interestingly to the reader.
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