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The traveler who advances as far as Florence； and does not go on
to Rome； must be regardless indeed of the opinions of his
friends。 Let me not attempt to conceal itI am that insensible
traveler。 Over and over again； I said to myself： 〃Rome must be
done〃； and over and over again I put off doing it。 To own the
truth； the fascinations of Florence； aided by the society of my
friend； laid so strong a hold on me that I believe I should have
ended my days in the delightful Italian city； but for the
dangerous illness of one of my sons。 This misfortune hurried me
back to England； in dread； every step of the way； of finding that
I had arrived too late。 The journey （thank God！） proved to have
been taken without need。 My son was no longer in danger； when I
reached London in the year 1875。
At that date I was near enough to the customary limit of human
life to feel the necessity of rest and quiet。 In other words； my
days of travel had come to their end。
Having established myself in my own country； I did not forget to
let old friends know where they might find me。 Among those to
whom I wrote was another colleague of past years； who still held
his medical appointment in the prison。 When I received the
doctor's reply； it inclosed a letter directed to me at my old
quarters in the Governor's rooms。 Who could possibly have sent a
letter to an address which I had left five years since？ My
correspondent proved to be no less a person than the
Congregational Ministerthe friend whom I had estranged from me
by the tone in which I had written to him； on the long…past
occasion of his wife's death。
It was a distressing letter to read。 I beg permission to give
only the substance of it in this place。
Entreating me； with touching expressions of humility and sorrow；
to forgive his long silence； the writer appealed to my friendly
remembrance of him。 He was in sore need of counsel； under serious
difficulties； and I was the only person to whom he could apply
for help。 In the disordered state of his health at that time； he
ventured to hope that I would visit him at his present place of
abode； and would let him have the happiness of seeing me as
speedily as possible。 He concluded with this extraordinary
postscript：
〃When you see my daughters； say nothing to either of them which
relates； in any way； to the subject of their ages。 You shall hear
why when we meet。〃
The reading of this letter naturally reminded me of the claims
which my friend's noble conduct had established on my admiration
and respect； at the past time when we met in the prison。 I could
not hesitate to grant his requeststrangely as it was expressed；
and doubtful as the prospect appeared to be of my answering the
expectations which he had founded on the renewal of our
intercourse。 Answering his letter by telegraph； I promised to be
with him on the next day。
On arriving at the station； I found that I was the only traveler；
by a first…class carriage； who left the train。 A young lady；
remarkable by her good looks and good dressing； seemed to have
noticed this trifling circumstance。 She approached me with a
ready smile。 〃I believe I am speaking to my father's friend；〃 she
said； 〃my name is Helena Gracedieu。〃
Here was one of the Minister's two 〃daughters〃； and that one of
the twoas I discovered the moment I shook hands with herwho
was my friend's own child。 Miss Helena recalled to me her
mother's face； infinitely improved by youth and health； and by a
natural beauty which that cruel and deceitful woman could never
have possessed。 The slanting forehead and the shifting； flashing
eyes； that I recollected in the parent； were reproduced （slightly
reproduced； I ought to say） in the child。 As for the other
features； I had never seen a more beautiful nose and mouth； or a
more delicately…shaped outline； than was presented by the lower
part of the face。 But Miss Helena somehow failed to charm me。 I
doubt if I should have fallen in love with her； even in the days
when I was a foolish young man。
The first question that I put； as we drove from the station to
the house； related naturally to her father。
〃He is very ill；〃 she began； 〃I am afraid you must prepare
yourself to see a sad change。 Nerves。 The mischief first showed
itself； the doctor tells us； in derangement of his nervous
system。 He has been； I regret to tell you； obstinate in refusing
to give up his preaching and pastoral work。 He ought to have
tried rest at the seaside。 Things have gone on from bad to worse。
Last Sunday； at the beginning of his sermon； he broke down。 Very；
very sad； is it not？ The doctor says that precious time has been
lost； and he must make up his mind to resign his charge。 He won't
hear of it。 You are his old friend。 Please try to persuade him。〃
Fluently spoken； the words well chosen； the melodious voice
reminding me of the late Mrs。 Gracedieu's advantages in that
respect； little sighs judiciously thrown in here and there； just
at the right places； everything； let me own； that could present a
dutiful daughter as a pattern of proprietyand nothing； let me
add； that could produce an impression on my insensible
temperament。 If I had not been too discreet to rush at a hasty
conclusion； I might have been inclined to say： her mother's
child； every inch of her！
The interest which I was still able to feel in my friend's
domestic affairs centered in the daughter whom he had adopted。
In her infancy I had seen the child； and liked her； I was the one
person living （since the death of Mrs。 Gracedieu） who knew how
the Minister had concealed the sad secret of her parentage； and I
wanted to discover if the hereditary taint had begun to show
itself in the innocent offspring of the murderess。 Just as I was
considering how I might harmlessly speak of Miss Helena's
〃sister；〃 Miss Helena herself introduced the subject。
〃May I ask；〃 she resumed； 〃if you were disappointed when you
found nobody but me to meet you at our station？〃
Here was an opportunity of paying her a compliment； if I had been
a younger man； or if she had produced a favorable impression on
me。 As it was； I hitif I may praise myselfon an ingenious
compromise。
〃What excuse could I have；〃 I asked； 〃for feeling disappointed？〃
〃Well； I hear you are an official personageI ought to say；
perhaps； a retired official personage。 We might have received you
more respectfully； if _both_ my father's daughters had been
present at the station。 It's not my fault that my sister was not
with me。〃
The tone in which she said this strengthened my prejudice against
her。 It told me that the two girls were living together on no
very friendly terms； and it suggestedjustly or unjustly I could
not then decidethat Miss Helena was to blame。
〃My sister is away from home。〃
〃Surely； Miss Helena； that is a good reason for her not coming to
meet me？〃
〃I beg your pardonit is a bad reason。 She has been sent away
for the recovery of her healthand the loss of her health is
entirely her own fault。〃
What did this matter to me？ I decided on dropping the subject。 My
memory reverted； however； to past occasions on which the loss of
_my_ health had been entirely my own fault。 Ther