William Wilkie Collins

Name: After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story.
Author: William Wilkie Collins

After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

Summary

“After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story.”, published in 1856, is a work by William Wilkie Collins. It explores elements such as Mademoiselle Clairfait, sitter and miniature.

Quotes from After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (William Wilkie Collins)

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ Mademoiselle Clairfait gently brushed a particle of dust from the miniature with her handkerchief, and kissed it. "I have three angels still left," she said, looking at her pupils. "They console me for the fourth, who has gone to heaven."
She patted the face on the miniature gently with her little, withered, white fingers, as if it had been a living thing. "Sister Rose!" she sighed to herself; then, looking up again at me, said, "I should like it put into my portrait, sir, because I have always worn it since I was a young woman, for 'Sister Rose's' sake." ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ The eldest sister remained behind for a moment, and reminded me that the lunch was ready.
"I am afraid you have found the dear old soul rather an unruly sitter," she said, noticing the look of dissatisfaction with which I was regarding my drawing. "But she will improve as you go on. She has done better already for the last half-hour, has she not?"
"Much better," I answered. "My admiration of the miniature on the bracelet seemed—I suppose, by calling up some old associations—to have a strangely soothing effect on Mademoiselle Clairfait." ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ Mademoiselle Clairfait is the daughter of a silk-mercer, once established at Chalons-sur-Marne. Her father happened to give an asylum in his office to a lonely old man, to whom 'Sister Rose' and her brother had been greatly indebted in the revolutionary time; and out of a train of circumstances connected with that, the first acquaintance between mademoiselle and the friend whose portrait she wears, arose. After the time of her father's bankruptcy, and for many years before we were placed under her charge, our good old governess lived entirely with 'Sister Rose' and her brother. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ Does he find me pretty and paintable from top to toe?" Here she dropped me another brisk courtesy, placed herself in a languishing position in the sitter's chair, and asked us all if she looked like a shepherdess in Dresden china.
The young ladies burst out laughing, and mademoiselle, as gay as any of them and a great deal shriller, joined in the merriment. Never before had I contended with any sitter half as restless as that wonderful old lady. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ Kerby. I hope you are not above painting silk, lace, and jewelry. The dear old lady, who is perfection in everything else, is perfection also in dress, and is bent on being painted in all her splendor."
This explanation prepared me for something extraordinary; but I found that my anticipations had fallen far below the reality when Mademoiselle Clairfait at last made her appearance, and announced that she was ready to sit for her portrait. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ The nature of my calling is, I am quite aware, mainly answerable for this. People cannot be blamed for forgetting a man who, on leaving their houses, never can tell them for certain when he is likely to be in their neighborhood again. ”

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Source: Wikisource

William Wilkie Collins, After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (1856)

“ My first idea on hearing of this was, that the governess was about to leave her situation, and that her pupils wished to have a memorial of her in the shape of a portrait. Subsequent inquiry, however, informed me that I was in error. It was the eldest of Mr. Lanfray's daughters, who was on the point of leaving the house to accompany her husband to India; and it was for her that the portrait had been ordered as a home remembrance of her best and dearest friend. Besides these particulars, I discovered that the governess, though still called "mademoiselle," was an old lady; that Mr. ”

William Wilkie Collins

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Quotes from After Dark — Prologue to the Third Story… (William Wilkie Collins)

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