The girls who had _rôles_ were wild with delight. They had had committee meetings, at which they discussed the quality of the piece, and I may add that it was unanimously pronounced perfectly wonderful. All around me I heard nothing but exclamations of joy and admiration, and I alone was wretched, absolutely wretched, for I had no _rôle_. What misery I endured in the midst of all this joy! My dear Mother--as we called the elder girls who looked after us--never thought of trying to comfort me nor yet to reason with me; she was too much taken up herself with the great event. I could, therefore, weep and fume to my heart's content. I knew all the _rôles_ by heart, and I thought that most of the girls recited their parts very badly. Finally I undertook to coach Louise Bugnet in her _rôle_. She was to play the part of the guiding angel, and she could not manage it at all. She was ten years old, and I liked her very much. She was my special friend. "How silly you are!" I said to her. "If I were in your place I should not be at all nervous. Listen! this is how I should say it." And standing in front of her I went through her part, and she then repeated it much better after me. But the next day, at the final rehearsal, in the large room which we used on holidays, she was seized with such a trembling fit that she could not utter a single word. We were all there together, and Mother Sainte-Appoline was drilling us in her own way. She imitated Monseigneur Sibour, who was to be present at the performance, and she said, "When he does like this you must all clap," and when she clapped her long, delicate hands together, it sounded as though there were cotton-wool between them. I should have enjoyed all this immensely if I had not been furious. I knew all the _rôles_ and had not a single word to say. Most of the girls were beaming with pride; Louise Bugnet alone was crying and sobbing. I thought her very stupid. "That child will never get through her part," exclaimed the Mother Superior. "Oh, no, I can't; I am sure I can't!" sobbed my poor little friend. There was a general uproar, and all at once I felt my childish heart leap with the wildest joy. The blood seemed to boil in my veins, and, rushing from the platform, I jumped on to a form. "Mother! Mother!" I exclaimed, "I know the _rôle_. Would you like me to take it?" Everybody was looking at me. I was trembling, but I felt quite brave. I knew the part and was sure of myself. Mother Sainte-Sophie, the Superior of the Convent, an adorable creature (one of the happy memories of my childhood), answered: "Well, my dear, let me hear you." I tossed back my refractory hair, and, bold and panting, proceeded to recite the _rôle_ of the guiding angel. "There!" I exclaimed, when I came to the end. My schoolfellows laughed, the sisters smiled, but, very much encouraged, I mounted on to the little platform and the rehearsal commenced.