After Dark Prologue to the Third Story

In which the narrator, called to paint a portrait of a French governess at Rockleigh Place, encounters the lively and exquisitely dressed Mademoiselle Clairfait, whose youthful spirit belies her sixty years and whose deep affection for a mysterious “Sister Rose” reveals a poignant depth beneath her playful exterior. The artist learns that to capture her true likeness he must coax forth the memories and stories linked to this treasured miniature, setting the stage for a narrative rich in personal history and gentle intrigue.