第12章

Anotherday，andsomethingnewthatmustandwillberemembered，shrinkfromitasImay。Thisafternoon，ImetHelenaonthestairs。

Shestopped，andeyedmewithawickedsmile；sheheldoutherhand。"Wearelikelytomeetoften，whileweareinthesamehouse，"shesaid；"hadn’twebetterconsultappearances，andpretendtobeasfondofeachotherasever？"

Itooknonoticeofherhand；Itooknonoticeofhershamelessproposal。Shetriedagain："Afterall，itisn’tmyfaultifPhiliplikesmebetterthanhelikesyou。Don’tyouseethat？"I

stillrefusedtospeaktoher。Shestillpersisted。"Howblackyoulook，Eunice！Areyousorryyoudidn’tkillme，whenyouhadyourhandsonmythroat？"

Isaid："Yes。"

Shelaughed，andleftme。Iwasobligedtositdownonthestair——Itrembledso。Myownreplyfrightenedme。ItriedtofindoutwhyIhadsaidYes。Idon’trememberbeingconsciousofmeaninganything。ItwasasifsomebodyelsehadsaidYes——notI。

PerhapsIwasprovoked，andthewordescapedmebeforeIcouldstopit。CouldIhavestoppedit？Idon’tknow。

Anothersleeplessnight。

DidIpassthemiserablehoursinwritingletterstoPhilipandthentearingthemup？OrdidIonlyfancythatIwrotetohim？I

havejustlookedatthefireplace。ThetornpaperinittellsmethatIdidwrite。WhydidIdestroymyletters？ImighthavesentoneofthemtoPhilip。Afterwhathashappened？Oh，no！no！

HavingbeenmanydaysawayfromtheGirls’ScriptureClass，itseemedtobepossiblethatgoingbacktotheschoolandtheteachingmighthelpmetoescapefrommyself。

Nothingsucceedswithme。Ifounditimpossibletoinstructthegirlsasusual；theirstupiditysoonreachedthelimitofmypatience——suffocatedmewithrage。Oneofthem，apoor，fat，feeblecreature，begantocrywhenIscoldedher。Ilookedwithenvyatthetearsrollingoverherbigroundcheeks。IfIcouldonlycry，Imightperhapsbearmyhardfatewithsubmission。

Iwalkedtowardhomebyaroundaboutway；feelingasifwantofsleepwaskillingmebyinches。

IntheHighStreet，IsawHelena；shewaspostingaletter，andwasnotawarethatIwasnearher。Leavingthepost—office，shecrossedthestreet，andnarrowlyescapedbeingrunover。Supposethethreatenedaccidenthadreallytakenplace——howshouldIhavefelt，ifithadendedfatally？WhatafoolIamtobeputtingquestionstomyselfaboutthingsthathavenothappened！

Thewalkingtiredme；Iwentstraighthome。

BeforeIcouldringthebell，thehousedooropened，andthedoctorcameout。Hestoppedtospeaktome。WhileIhadbeenaway（hesaid），somethinghadhappenedathome（heneitherknewnorwishedtoknowwhat）whichhadthrownmyfatherintoastateofviolentagitation。Thedoctorhadadministeredcomposingmedicine。"Mypatientisasleepnow，"hetoldme；"butrememberwhatIsaidtoyouthelasttimewemet；alongerrestthananydoctor’sprescriptioncangivehimiswhathewants。Youarenotlookingwellyourself，mydear。Whatisthematter？"

Itoldhimofmywretchedrestlessnights；andaskedifImighttakesomeofthecomposingmedicinewhichhehadgiventomyfather。Heforbademetotouchadropofit。"Whatisphysicforyourfather，youfoolishchild，isnotphysicforayoungcreaturelikeyou，"hesaid。"Countathousand，ifyoucan’tsleepto—night，orturnyourpillow。Iwishyoupleasantdreams。"

Hewentaway，amusedathisownhumor。

IfoundSelinawaitingtospeakwithme，onthesubjectofpoorpapa。

Shehadbeenstartledonhearinghisvoice，loudinanger。Inthefearthatsomethingserioushadhappened，sheleftherroomtomakeinquiries，andsawHelenaonthelandingoftheflightofstairsbeneath，leavingthestudy。Afterwaitingtillmysisterwasoutoftheway，Selinaventuredtopresentherselfatthestudydoor，andtoaskifshecouldbeofanyuse。Myfather，walkingexcitedlyupanddowntheroom，declaredthatbothhisdaughtershadbehavedinfamously，andthathewouldnotsufferthemtospeaktohimagainuntiltheyhadcometotheirsenses，onthesubjectofMr。Dunboyne。Hewouldenterintonofurtherexplanation；andhehadordered，ratherthanrequested，Selinatoleavehim。Havingobeyed，shetriednexttofindme，andhadjustlookedintothedining—roomtoseeifIwasthere，whenshewasfrightenedbythesoundofafallintheroomabove——thatistosay，inthestudy。Runningupstairsagain，shehadfoundhiminsensibleonthefloorandhadsentforthedoctor。

"Andmindthis，"Selinacontinued，"thepersonwhohasdonethemischiefisthepersonwhomIsawleavingthestudy。Whatyourunnaturalsistersaidtoprovokeherfather——"

"Thatyourunnaturalsisterwilltellyouherself，"Helena’svoiceadded。Shehadopenedthedoorwhileweweretoomuchabsorbedinourtalktohearher。

Selinaattemptedtoleavetheroom。Icaughtherbythehand，andheldherback。IwasafraidofwhatImightdoifsheleftmebymyself。NeverhaveIfeltanythingliketheragethattorturedme，whenIsawHelenalookingatuswiththesamewickedsmileonherlipsthathadinsultedmewhenwemetonthestairs。Have_we_anythingtobeashamedof？"IsaidtoSelina。"Staywhereyouare。"

"Youmaybeofsomeuse，MissJillgall，ifyoustay，"mysistersuggested。"Euniceseemstobetrembling。Issheangry，orissheill？"

Thestingofthiswasinthetoneofhervoice。ItwasthehardestthingIeverhadtodoinmylife——butIdidsucceedincontrollingmyself。

"Goonwithwhatyouhavetosay，"Ianswered，"anddon’tnoticeme。"

"Youarenotverypolite，mydear，butIcanmakeallowances。Oh，come！come！puttingupyourhandstostopyourearsistoochildish。Youwoulddobettertoexpressregretforhavingmisledyourfather。Yes！youdidmisleadhim。Onlyafewdayssince，youlefthimtosupposethatyouwereengagedtoPhilip。Itbecamemyduty，afterthat，toopenhiseyestothetruth；andifI

unhappilyprovokedhim，itwasyourfault。IwasstrictlycarefulinthelanguageIused。Isaid：’Dearfather，youhavebeenmisinformedonaveryserioussubject。Theonlymarriageengagementforwhichyourkindsanctionisrequested，is_my_

engagement。_I_haveconsentedtobecomeMrs。PhilipDunboyne。’"

"Stop！"Isaid。

"WhyamItostop？"

"BecauseIhavesomethingtosay。YouandIarelookingateachother。Doesmyfacetellyouwhatispassinginmymind？"

"Yourfaceseemstobepalerthanusual，"sheanswered——"that’sall。"

"No，"Isaid；"thatisnotall。Thedevilthatpossessedme，whenIdiscoveredyouwithPhilip，isnotcastoutofmeyet。SilencethesneeringdevilthatisinYou，orwemaybothlivetoregretit。"

WhetherIdidordidnotfrightenher，Icannotsay。ThisonlyI

know——sheturnedawaysilentlytothedoor，andwentout。

Idroppedonthesofa。Thathorridhungeringforrevenge，whichI

feltforthefirsttimewhenIknewhowHelenahadwrongedme，begantodegradeandtemptmeagain。Intheefforttogetawayfromthisnewevilselfofmine，ItriedtofindsympathyinSelina，andcalledtohertocomeandsitbyme。SheseemedtobestartledwhenIlookedather，butsherecoveredherself，andcametome，andtookmyhand。

"IwishIcouldcomfortyou！"shesaid，inherkindsimpleway。

"Keepmyhandinyourhand，"Itoldher；"Iamdrowningindarkwater——andIhavenothingtoholdbybutyou。"

"Oh，mydarling，don’ttalkinthatway！"

"GoodSelina！dearSelina！YoushalltalktoMe。Saysomethingharmless——tellmeamelancholystory——trytomakemecry。"

Mypoorlittlefriendlookedsadlybewildered。

"I’mmorelikelytocrymyself，"shesaid。"Thisissoheart—breaking——IalmostwishIwasbackinthetime，beforeyoucamehome，thetimewhenyourdetestablesisterfirstshowedhowshehatedme。Iwashappy，meanlyhappy，inthespitefulenjoymentofprovokingher。Oh，Euneece，Ishallneverrecovermyspiritsagain！Allthepityintheworldwouldnotbepityenoughfor_you。_Sohardlytreated！soyoung！soforlorn！Yourgoodfathertooilltohelpyou；yourpoormother——"

Iinterruptedher；shehadinterestedmeinsomethingbetterthanmyownwretchedself。Iaskeddirectlyifshehadknownmymother。

"Mydearchild，Ineverevensawher！"

"Hasmyfatherneverspokentoyouabouther？"

"Onlyonce，whenIaskedhimhowlongshehadbeendead。Hetoldmeyoulostherwhileyouwereaninfant，andhetoldmenomore。

Iwaslookingatherportraitinthestudy，onlyyesterday。I

thinkitmustbeabadportrait；yourmother’sfacedisappointsme。"

Ihadarrivedatthesameconclusionyearssince。ButIshrankfromconfessingit。

"Atanyrate，"Selinacontinued，"youarenotlikeher。Nobodywouldeverguessthatyouwerethechildofthatlady，withthelongslantingforeheadandtherestlesslookinhereyes。"

WhatSelinahadsaidofmeandmymother’sportrait，otherfriendshadsaid。TherewasnothingthatIknowoftointerestmeinhearingitrepeated——andyetitsetmeponderingonthewantofresemblancebetweenmymother’sfaceandmine，andwondering（notforthefirsttime）whatsortofwomanmymotherwas。Whenmyfatherspeaksofher，nowordsofpraisethathecanutterseemtobegoodenoughforher。Oh，me，IwishIwasalittlemorelikemymother！

Itbegantogetdark；Mariabroughtinthelamp。Thesuddenbrightnessoftheflamestruckmyachingeyes，asifithadbeenablowfromaknife。Iwasobligedtohidemyfaceinmyhandkerchief。CompassionateSelinaentreatedmetogotobed。

"Restyourpooreyes，mychild，andyourwearyhead——andtryatleasttogetsomesleep。"Shefoundmeverydocile；Ikissedher，andsaidgood—night。Ihadmyownidea。

Whenallwasquietinthehouse，Istoleoutintothepassageandlistenedatthedoorofmyfather’sroom。

Iheardhisregularbreathing，andopenedthedoorandwentin。

Thecomposingmedicine，ofwhichIwasinsearch，wasnotonthetablebyhisbedside。Ifounditinthecupboard——perhapsplacedpurposelyoutofhisreach。Theysaythatsomephysicispoison，ifyoutaketoomuchofit。Thelabelonthebottletoldmewhatthedosewas。Idroppeditintothemedicineglass，andswallowedit，andwentbacktomyfather。

Verygently，soasnottowakehim，Itouchedpoorpapa’sforeheadwithmylips。"Imusthavesomeofyourmedicine，"I

whisperedtohim；"Iwantit，dear，asbadlyasyoudo。"

ThenIreturnedtomyownroom——andlaydowninbed，waitingtobecomposed。

CHAPTERXXXI。

EUNICE’SDIARY。

MyrestlessnightsarepassedinSelina’sroom。

Herbedremainsnearthewindow。Mybedhasbeenplacedopposite，nearthedoor。Ournight—lightishiddeninacorner，sothatthefaintglowofitisallthatwesee。Whattriflesthesearetowriteabout！ButtheymixthemselvesupwithwhatIamdeterminedtosetdowninmyJournal，andthentoclosethebookforgoodandall。

Ihadnotdisturbedmylittlefriend’senviablerepose，eitherwhenIleftourbed—chamber，orwhenIreturnedtoit。Thenightwasquiet，andthestarswereout。Nothingmovedbutthethrobbingatmytemples。Thelightsandshadowsinourhalf—darkenedroom，whichatothertimessuggeststrangeresemblancestomyfancy，failedtodisturbmenow。Iwasinadarknessofmyownmaking，havingboundahandkerchief，cooledwithwater，overmyhoteyes。TherewasnothingtointerferewiththesoothinginfluenceofthedosethatIhadtaken，ifmyfather’smedicinewouldonlyhelpme。

Ibeganbadly。Theclockinthehallstruckthequarterpastthehour，thehalf—past，thethree—quarterspast，thenewhour。Timewasawake——andIwasawakewithTime。

ItwassuchatrialtomypatiencethatIthoughtofgoingbacktomyfather’sroom，andtakingaseconddoseofthemedicine，nomatterwhattheriskmightbe。Onattemptingtogetup，Ibecameawareofachangeinme。Therewasadullsensationinmylimbswhichseemedtobindthemdownonthebed。Itwasthestrangestfeeling。Mywillsaid，Getup——andmyheavylimbssaid，No。

Ilayquitestill，thinkingdesperatethoughts，andgettingnearerandnearertotheendthatIhadbeendreadingforsomanydayspast。Havingbeenaswelleducatedasmostgirls，mylessonsinhistoryhadmademeacquaintedwithassassinationandmurder。

HorrorswhichIhadrecoiledfromreadinginpasthappydays，nowreturnedtomymemory；and，thistime，theyinterestedinsteadofrevoltingme。IcountedthethreefirstwaysofkillingasI

happenedtorememberthem，inmybooksofinstruction：——awaybystabbing；awaybypoison；awayinabed，bysuffocationwithapillow。Onthatdreadfulnight，IneveroncecalledtomindwhatIfindmyselfrememberingnow——theharmlesspasttime，whenourfriendsusedtosay："Euniceisagoodgirl；weareallfondofEunice。"ShallIeverbethesamelovablecreatureagain？

WhileIlaythinking，astrangethinghappened。Philip，whohadhauntedmefordaysandnightstogether，vanishedoutofmythoughts。Mymemoryofthelovewhichhadbegunsobrightly，andhadendedsomiserably，becameablank。Nothingwasleftbutmyownhorridvisionsofvengeanceanddeath。

Forawhile，thestrokesoftheclockstillreachedmyears。Butitwasanefforttocountthem；Iendedinlettingthempassunheeded。Soonafterward，theroundofmythoughtsbegantocircleslowlyandmoreslowly。Thestrokesoftheclockdiedout。

Theroundofmythoughtsstopped。

Allthistime，myeyeswerestillcoveredbythehandkerchiefwhichIhadlaidoverthem。

Thedarknessbegantoweighonmyspirits，andtofillmewithdistrust。Ifoundmyselfsuspectingthattherewassomechange——perhapsanunearthlychange——passingovertheroom。ToremainblindfoldedanylongerwasmorethanIcouldendure。I

liftedmyhand——withoutbeingconsciousoftheheavysensationwhich，sometimebefore，hadlaidmylimbshelplessonthebed——I

liftedmyhand，anddrewthehandkerchiefawayfrommyeyes。

Thefaintglowofthenight—lightwasextinguished。

Buttheroomwasnotquitedark。Therewasaghastlylighttremblingoverit；likenothingthatIhaveeverseenbyday；

likenothingthatIhaveeverseenbynight。IdimlydiscernedSelina’sbed，andtheframeofthewindow，andthecurtainsoneithersideofit——butnotthestarlight，andnottheshadowytopsofthetreesinthegarden。

Thelightgrewfainterandfainter；theobjectsintheroomfadedslowlyaway。Darknesscame。

Itmaybeasayinghardtobelieve——but，whenIdeclarethatI

wasnotfrightened，Iamtellingthetruth。Whethertheroomwaslightedbyawfullight，orsunkinawfuldark，Iwasequallyinterestedintheexpectationofwhatmighthappennext。I

listenedcalmlyforwhatImighthear：IwaitedcalmlyforwhatI

mightfeel。

Atouchcamefirst。Ifeelitcreepingonmyface——likealittleflutteringbreeze。Thesensationpleasedmeforawhile。Soonitgrewcolder，andcolder，andcolder，tillitfrozeme。

"Oh，nomore！"Icriedout。"Youarekillingmewithanicydeath！"

Thedead—coldtoucheslingeredamomentlonger——andleftme。

Thefirstsoundcame。

Itwasthesoundofawhisperonmypillow，closetomyear。Mystrangeinsensibilitytofearremainedundisturbed。Thewhisperwaswelcome，itkeptmecompanyinthedarkroom。

Itsaidtome："DoyouknowwhoIam？"

Ianswered："No。"

Itsaid。："Whohaveyoubeenthinkingofthisevening？"

Ianswered："Mymother。"

Thewhispersaid："Iamyourmother。"

"Oh，mother，commandthelighttocomeback！Showyourselftome！"

"No。"

"Whynot？"

"MyfacewashiddenwhenIpassedfromlifetodeath。Myfacenomortalcreaturemaysee。"

"Oh，mother，touchme！Kissme！"

"No。"

"Whynot？"

"Mytouchispoison。Mykissisdeath。"

Thesenseoffearbegantocometomenow。Imovedmyheadawayonthepillow。Thewhisperfollowedmymovement。

"Leaveme，"Isaid。"YouareanEvilSpirit。"

Thewhisperanswered："Iamyourmother。"

"Youcometotemptme。"

"Icometohardenyourheart。Daughterofmine，whosebloodiscool；daughterofmine，whotamelysubmits——youhaveloved。Isittrue？"

"Itistrue。"

"Themanyoulovedhasdesertedyou。Isittrue？"

"Itistrue。"

"Awomanhasluredhimawaytoherself。Awomanhashadnomercyonyou，oronhim。Isittrue？"

"Itistrue。"

"Ifshelives，whatcrimetowardyouwillshecommitnext？"

"Ifshelives，shewillmarryhim。"

"Willyouletherlive？"

"Never。"

"HaveIhardenedyourheartagainsther？"

"Yes。"

"Willyoukillher？"

"Showmehow。"

Therewasasuddensilence。Iwasstillleftinthedarkness；

feelingnothing，hearingnothing。EventheconsciousnessthatI

waslyingonmybeddesertedme。IhadnoideathatIwasinthebedroom；IhadnoknowledgeofwhereIwas。

TheghastlylightthatIhadseenalreadydawnedonmeoncemore。

Iwasnolongerinmybed，nolongerinmyroom，nolongerinthehouse。Withoutwonder，withoutevenafeelingofsurprise，I

lookedround。Theplacewasfamiliartome。IwasaloneintheMuseumofourtown。

Thelightflowedalonginfrontofme。Ifollowed，fromroomtoroomintheMuseum，wherethelightled。

First，throughthepicture—gallery，hungwiththeworksofmodernmasters；then，throughtheroomfilledwithspecimensofstuffedanimals。Thelionandthetiger，thevultureoftheAlpsandthegreatalbatross，lookedlikelivingcreaturesthreateningme，inthesupernaturallight。Ienteredthethirdroom，devotedtotheexhibitionofancientarmor，andtheweaponsofallnations。Herethelightrosehigher，and，leavingmeindarknesswhereIstood，showedacollectionofswords，daggers，andknivesarrangedonthewallinimitationoftheformofastar。

Thewhispersoundedagain，closeatmyear。Itechoedmyownthought，whenIcalledtomindthewaysofkillingwhichhistoryhadtaughtme。Itsaid："Killherwiththeknife。"

No。MyheartfailedmewhenIthoughtoftheblood。Ihidthedreadfulweaponsfrommyview。Icriedout："Letmego！letmego！"

Again，Iwaslostindarkness。Again，IhadnoknowledgeinmeofwhereIwas。Again，afteraninterval，thelightshowedmethenewplaceinwhichIstood。

Iwasaloneintheburial—groundofourparishchurch。Thelightledmeon，amongthegraves，tothelonelycornerinwhichthegreatyewtreestands；and，risinghigher，revealedthesolemnfoliage，brightenedbythefatalredfruitwhichhidesinitselftheseedsofdeath。

Thewhispertemptedmeagain。Itfollowedagainthetrainofmyownthought。Itsaid："Killherbypoison。"

No。Revengebypoisonstealsitswaytoitsend。ThebasedeceitfulnessofHelena’scrimeagainstmeseemedtocallforadayofreckoningthathiditselfundernodisguise。Iraisedmycrytobedeliveredfromthesightofthedeadlytree，ThechangeswhichIhavetriedtodescribefollowedoncemoretheconfessionofwhatIfelt；thedarknesswasdispelledforthethirdtime。

IwasstandinginHelena’sroom，lookingatherasshelayasleepinherbed。

Shewasquitestillnow；butshemusthavebeenrestlessatsomeearliertime。Thebedclothesweredisordered，herheadhadsunksolowthatthepillowrosehighandvacantaboveher。There，coloredbyatenderflushofsleep，wasthefacewhosebeautyputmypoorfacetoshame。There，wasthesisterwhohadcommittedtheworstofmurders——thewretchwhohadkilledinmeallthatmadelifeworthhaving。Whilethatthoughtwasinmymind，I

heardthewhisperagain。"Killheropenly，"thetemptermothersaid。"Killherdaringly。Faintheart，doyoustillwantcourage？

Rouseyourspirit；look！seeyourselfintheact！"

Thetemptationtookaformwhichnowtriedmeforthefirsttime。

Asifamirrorhadreflectedthescene，Isawmyselfstandingbythebedside，withthepillowthatwastosmotherthesleeperinmyhands。Iheardthewhisperingvoicetellingmehowtospeakthewordsthatwarnedandcondemnedher："Wake！youwhohavetakenhimfromme！Wake！andmeetyourdoom。"

Isawherstartupinbed。Thesuddenmovementdisorderedthenightdressoverherbosomandshowedtheminiatureportraitofaman，hungroundherneck。

ThemanwasPhilip。Thelikenesswaslookingatme。

Sodear，solovely——thoseeyesthathadoncebeenthelightofmyheart，mournedformeandjudgedmenow。Theysawtheguiltythoughtthatpollutedme；theybroughtmetomyknees，imploringhimtohelpmebacktomybetterself："Onelastmercy，dear，tocomfortmeunderthelossofyou。Letthelovethatwasoncemylife，bemygoodangelstill。Saveme，Philip，eventhoughyouforsakeme——savemefrommyself！"

Therewasasuddencry。

Theagonyofitpiercedmybrain——droveawaytheghastlylight——silencedthetemptingwhispers。Icametomyself。I

saw——andnotinadream。

Helena_had_startedupinherbed。Thatcryofterror，atthesightofmeinherroomatnight，_had_burstfromherlips。TheminiatureofPhiliphungroundherneck，avisiblereality。

Thoughmyheadwasdizzy，thoughmyheartwassinking，Ihadnotlostmysensesyet。Allthatthenightlampcouldshowme，I

stillsaw；andIheardthesound，faintly，whenthedoorofthebed—chamberwasopened。Alarmedbythatpiercingcry，myfathercamehurryingintotheroom。

Notawordpassedbetweenusthree。ThewhispersthatIhadheardwerewicked；thethoughtsthathadbeeninmymindwerevile。Hadtheyleftsomepoisonintheairoftheroom，whichkilledthewordsonourlips？

MyfatherlookedatHelena。Withatremblinghandshepointedtome。Heputhisarmroundmeandheldmeup。Irememberhisleadingmeaway——andIremembernothingmore。

Mylastwordsarewritten。Ilockupthisjournalofmisery——never，Ihopeandpray，toopenitagain。

—————

SecondPeriod（continued）。

EVENTSINTHEFAMILY，RELATEDBYTHEGOVERNOR。

—————

CHAPTERXXXII。

THEMIDDLE—AGEDLADY。

INtheyear1870Ifoundmyselfcompelledtosubmittothedemandsoftwohardtask—masters。

AdvancingageandfailinghealthremindedtheGovernorofthePrisonofhisdutytohissuccessor，inoneunanswerableword——Resign。

Whentheyhaveemployedusandinterestedus，forthegreaterpartofourlives，webidfarewelltoourduties——eventothegloomydutiesofaprison——withasenseofregret。Myviewofthefuturepresentedavacantprospectindeed，whenIlookedatmyidlelifetocome，andwonderedwhatIshoulddowithit。Looseontheworld——atmyage！——Idriftedintodomesticrefuge，underthecareofmytwodearandgoodsons。Afterawhile（nevermindhowlongawhile）Ibegantogrowrestlessundertheheavyburdenofidleness。Havingnothingelsetocomplainof，Icomplainedofmyhealth，andconsultedadoctor。Thatsagaciousmanhitontherightwayofgettingridofme——herecommendedtraveling。

Thiswasunexpectedadvice。Aftersomehesitation，Iaccepteditreluctantly。

Theinstinctsofagerecoilfrommakingnewacquaintances，contemplatingnewplaces，andadoptingnewhabits。Besides，I

haterailwaytraveling。However，IcontrivedtogetasfarasItaly，andstoppedtorestatFlorence。Here，IfoundpicturesbytheoldmastersthatIcouldreallyenjoy，apublicparkthatIcouldhonestlyadmire，andanexcellentfriendandcolleagueofformerdays；oncechaplaintotheprison，nowclergymaninchargeoftheEnglishChurch。WemetinthegalleryofthePittiPalace；andherecognizedmeimmediately。Iwaspleasedtofindthatthelapseofyearshadmadesolittledifferenceinmypersonalappearance。

ThetravelerwhoadvancesasfarasFlorence，anddoesnotgoontoRome，mustberegardlessindeedoftheopinionsofhisfriends。Letmenotattempttoconcealit——Iamthatinsensibletraveler。Overandoveragain，Isaidtomyself："Romemustbedone"；andoverandoveragainIputoffdoingit。Toownthetruth，thefascinationsofFlorence，aidedbythesocietyofmyfriend，laidsostrongaholdonmethatIbelieveIshouldhaveendedmydaysinthedelightfulItaliancity，butforthedangerousillnessofoneofmysons。ThismisfortunehurriedmebacktoEngland，indread，everystepoftheway，offindingthatIhadarrivedtoolate。Thejourney（thankGod！）provedtohavebeentakenwithoutneed。Mysonwasnolongerindanger，whenI

reachedLondonintheyear1875。

AtthatdateIwasnearenoughtothecustomarylimitofhumanlifetofeelthenecessityofrestandquiet。Inotherwords，mydaysoftravelhadcometotheirend。