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。