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Poor Miss Finch

Édition BooksWhale en anglais par Wilkie Collins

A suspenseful love story about blindness, identity, medical treatment, and the emotional power of what people choose to conceal.

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Introduction du livre

Poor Miss Finch

Lucilla Finch’s blindness shapes how she understands beauty, trust, and marriage, while a pair of brothers become entangled in a dangerous deception. Collins uses domestic melodrama to ask whether love can survive when sight, identity, and truth no longer align.

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Cette édition repose sur un texte du domaine public et a été préparée par BooksWhale pour la lecture numérique.

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Published in 1872; Wilkie Collins died in 1889. The original English text is public domain under the United States term and life-plus-70 rules.

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Poor Miss Finch

Wilkie Collins

Chapitre d'aperçuTO MRS. ELLIOT, (OF THE DEANERY, BRISTOL).Aperçu

WILL YOU honor me by accepting the Dedication of this book, in remembrance of an uninterrupted friendship of many years?

More than one charming blind girl, in fiction and in the drama, has preceded "Poor Miss Finch." But, so far as I know, blindness in these cases has been always exhibited, more or less exclusively, from the ideal and the sentimental point of view. The attempt here made is to appeal to an interest of another kind, by exhibiting blindness as it really is. I have carefully gathered the information necessary to the execution of this purpose from competent authorities of all sorts. Whenever "Lucilla" acts or speaks in these pages, with reference to her blindness, she is doing or saying what persons afflicted as she is have done or said before her. Of the other features which I have added to produce and sustain interest in this central personage of my story, it does not become me to speak. It is for my readers to say if "Lucilla" has found her way to their sympathies. In this character, and more especially again in the characters of "Nugent Dubourg" and "Madame Pratolungo," I have tried to present human nature in its inherent inconsistencies and self-contradictions—in its intricate mixture of good and evil, of great and small—as I see it in the world about me. But the faculty of observing character is so rare, the curiously mistaken tendency to look for logical consistency in human motives and human actions is so general, that I may possibly find the execution of this part of my task misunderstood—sometimes even resented—in certain quarters. However, Time has stood my friend in relation to other characters of mine in other books—and who can say that Time may not help me again here? Perhaps, one of these days, I may be able to make use of some of the many interesting stories of events that have really happened, which have been placed in my hands by persons who could speak as witnesses to the truth of the narrative. Thus far, I have not ventured to disturb the repose of these manuscripts in the locked drawer allotted to them. The true incidents are so "far-fetched"; and the conduct of the real people is so "grossly improbable"!

As for the object which I have had in view in writing this story, it is, I hope, plain enough to speak for itself. I subscribe to the article of belief which declares, that the conditions of human happiness are independent of bodily affliction, and that it is even possible for bodily affliction itself to take its place among the ingredients of happiness. These are the views which "Poor Miss Finch" is intended to advocate—and this is the impression which I hope to leave on the mind of the reader when the book is closed.

W. C. January 16th, 1872.

CHAPTER FIRST Madame Pratolungo presents Herself SECOND Madame Pratolungo makes a Voyage on Land THIRD Poor Miss Finch FOURTH Twilight View of the Man FIFTH Candlelight View of the Man SIXTH A Cage of Finches SEVENTH Daylight View of the Man EIGHTH The Perjury of the Clock NINTH The Hero of the Trial TENTH First Appearance of Jicks ELEVENTH Blind Love TWELFTH Mr. Finch smells Money THIRTEENTH Second Appearance of Jicks FOURTEENTH Discoveries at Browndown FIFTEENTH Events at the Bedside SIXTEENTH First Result of the Robbery SEVENTEENTH The Doctor's Opinion EIGHTEENTH Family Troubles NINETEENTH Second Result of the Robbery TWENTIETH Good Papa again! TWENTY-FIRST Madame Pratolungo Returns to Dimchurch TWENTY-SECOND The Twin-Brother's Letter TWENTY-THIRD He sets us All Right TWENTY-FOURTH He sees Lucilla TWENTY-FIFTH Nugent puzzles Madame Pratolungo TWENTY-SIXTH He proves Equal to the Occasion TWENTY-SEVENTH He finds a Way out of it TWENTY-EIGHTH He crosses the Rubicon TWENTY-NINTH Parliamentary Summary THIRTIETH Herr Grosse THIRTY-FIRST "Who Shall Decide when Doctors disagree?" THIRTY-SECOND Alas for the Marriage! THIRTY-THIRD The Day Between THIRTY-FOURTH Nugent shows his Hand THIRTY-FIFTH Lucilla tries her Sight THIRTY-SIXTH The Brothers Meet THIRTY-SEVENTH The Brothers change Places THIRTY-EIGHTH Is there no Excuse for Him? THIRTY-NINTH She Learns to See FORTIETH Traces of Nugent FORTY-FIRST A Hard Time for Madame Pratolungo FORTY-SECOND The Story of Lucilla: told by Herself FORTY-THIRD Lucilla's Journal, continued FORTY-FOURTH Lucilla's Journal, continued FORTY-FIFTH Lucilla's Journal, concluded FORTY-SIXTH The Italian Steamer FORTY-SEVENTH On the Way to the End. First Stage FORTY-EIGHTH On the Way to the End. Second Stage FORTY-NINTH On the Way to the End. Third Stage FIFTIETH The End of the Journey EPILOG Madame Pratolungo's Last Words

Chapitre d'aperçuCHAPTER THE FIRSTAperçu

CHAPTER THE FIRST

Table des matières

Dans cette édition

  1. 01Full text
  2. 02TO MRS. ELLIOT, (OF THE DEANERY, BRISTOL).
  3. 03CHAPTER THE FIRST
  4. 04Madame Pratolungo presents Herself
  5. 05CHAPTER THE SECOND
  6. 06Madame Pratolungo makes a Voyage on Land
  7. 07CHAPTER THE THIRD
  8. 08CHAPTER THE FOURTH
  9. 09Twilight View of the Man
  10. 10I had dined; I had rested; I was quite ready to go out again, and I said so.
  11. 11I shut the book, and answered, like Finch's boy, in three monosyllabic words:
  12. 12CHAPTER THE FIFTH
  13. 13Candlelight View of the Man
  14. 14CHAPTER THE SIXTH
  15. 15A Cage of Finches
  16. 16CHAPTER THE SEVENTH
  17. 17Daylight View of the Man
  18. 18I instantly arrived at my own conclusion.
  19. 19CHAPTER THE EIGHTH
  20. 20The Perjury of the Clock
  21. 21CHAPTER THE NINTH
  22. 22The Hero of the Trial
  23. 23CHAPTER THE TENTH
  24. 24First Appearance of Jicks
  25. 25I determined to say a warning word to Oscar before his precious metals were sent back to Browndown.
  26. 26CHAPTER THE ELEVENTH
  27. 27Blind Love
  28. 28I told her.
  29. 29CHAPTER THE TWELFTH
  30. 30Mr. Finch smells Money
  31. 31CHAPTER THE THIRTEENTH
  32. 32Second Appearance of Jicks
  33. 33"OSCAR."
  34. 34I stopped, and looked at Mrs. Finch.
  35. 35I felt every nerve in my body shudder at the sight of the child.
  36. 36I turned the child round. My own blood froze. Her mother, standing behind me, screamed with horror.
  37. 37CHAPTER THE FOURTEENTH
  38. 38Discoveries at Browndown
  39. 39CHAPTER THE FIFTEENTH
  40. 40Events at the Bedside
  41. 41CHAPTER THE SIXTEENTH
  42. 42First Result of the Robbery
  43. 43I am afraid I must confess that I myself took no very indulgent view of the patient's case.
  44. 44CHAPTER THE SEVENTEENTH
  45. 45The Doctor's Opinion
  46. 46I approached her; feeling the necessity of reminding her that I was in the room.
  47. 47CHAPTER THE EIGHTEENTH
  48. 48Family Troubles
  49. 49CHAPTER THE NINETEENTH
  50. 50Second Result of the Robbery
  51. 51"OSCAR."
  52. 52I started to my feet, looked at him, and dropped back into my chair.
  53. 53I understood him at last. That was the consideration which had reconciled him to it!
  54. 54I entreated him to dwell on it no more.
  55. 55CHAPTER THE TWENTIETH
  56. 56Good Papa again!
  57. 57CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIRST
  58. 58Madame Pratolungo Returns to Dimchurch
  59. 59I was determined not to give way—even to that.
  60. 60CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SECOND
  61. 61The Twin-Brother's Letter
  62. 62I handed Oscar back the letter.
  63. 63CHAPTER THE TWENTY-THIRD
  64. 64He sets us All Right
  65. 65I was indignant at such sentiments. "My glorious husband—" I began again.
  66. 66I began to feel a little surprised at his entering into these medical details.
  67. 67CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FOURTH
  68. 68He sees Lucilla
  69. 69CHAPTER THE TWENTY-FIFTH
  70. 70Nugent puzzles Madame Pratolungo
  71. 71I was thoroughly at a loss to understand the impression which Lucilla had produced on him.
  72. 72CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH
  73. 73I met that objection also—to my own satisfaction, though not to his.
  74. 74I lifted my hands and eyes in astonishment. Nugent went on.
  75. 75I put a question to him on my side.
  76. 76CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SIXTH
  77. 77He proves Equal to the Occasion
  78. 78CHAPTER THE TWENTY-SEVENTH
  79. 79He finds a Way out of it
  80. 80I gave up attempting to understand him; and answered that plain question, plainly.
  81. 81I drew the inevitable conclusion. The German oculist was in England!
  82. 82CHAPTER THE TWENTY-EIGHTH
  83. 83He crosses the Rubicon
  84. 84I felt it necessary to assert myself for the second time.
  85. 85I made no answer.
  86. 86I brushed away the tears from my eyes, and looked up.
  87. 87CHAPTER THE TWENTY-NINTH
  88. 88Parliamentary Summary
  89. 89CHAPTER THE THIRTIETH
  90. 90Herr Grosse
  91. 91CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIRST
  92. 92"Who Shall Decide when Doctors disagree?"
  93. 93CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SECOND
  94. 94Alas for the Marriage!
  95. 95PART THE SECOND
  96. 96CHAPTER THE THIRTY-THIRD
  97. 97The Day Between
  98. 98I owned that my observation of Mr. Sebright's character did not extend to guessing that.
  99. 99I felt it—throbbing faster and faster.
  100. 100I hurried into the sitting-room.
  101. 101THE END OF THE FIRST PART
  102. 102PART THE SECOND
  103. 103CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FOURTH
  104. 104Nugent shows his Hand
  105. 105I CLOSED the First Part of my narrative on the day of the operation, the twenty-fifth of June.
  106. 106I open the Second Part, between six and seven weeks later, on the ninth of August.
  107. 107I begin again on the ninth of August.
  108. 108I took my first precaution against a surprise from Nugent, as I crossed the threshold of the door.
  109. 109CHAPTER THE THIRTY-FIFTH
  110. 110Lucilla tries her Sight
  111. 111I answered the first question. Who could answer the second?
  112. 112I answered Oscar in a whisper.
  113. 113I again attempted to stop it; and again the German put me back.
  114. 114CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SIXTH
  115. 115The Brothers Meet
  116. 116I made my excuses to my guest, and hurried out.
  117. 117CHAPTER THE THIRTY-SEVENTH
  118. 118The Brothers change Places
  119. 119I didn't care. I shouted. I came down, with a smack of my hand, on the opposite side of the table.
  120. 120I declined to wait for considerable explanation. "You have not seen him?" I said.
  121. 121CHAPTER THE THIRTY-EIGHTH
  122. 122Is there no Excuse for Him?
  123. 123I rose on my side, and stopped him as he was leaving the room.
  124. 124I made a sign in the affirmative.
  125. 125I could endure it no longer.
  126. 126CHAPTER THE THIRTY-NINTH
  127. 127CHAPTER THE THIRTY-NINTH
  128. 128She Learns to See
  129. 129CHAPTER THE FORTIETH
  130. 130Traces of Nugent
  131. 131"MADAME PRATOLUNGO!"
  132. 132I felt a little nervous as to how the day would pass—when the German left me alone with Lucilla.
  133. 133I deferred to the next day any attempt at making further discoveries.
  134. 134I opened the letter.
  135. 135CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIRST
  136. 136A Hard Time for Madame Pratolungo
  137. 137I sent for her to see me in my room, and showed her my letter.
  138. 138I rang the bell—once, twice. Nobody answered it.
  139. 139CHAPTER THE FORTY-SECOND
  140. 140The Story of Lucilla: told by Herself
  141. 141Lucilla's Journal
  142. 142I have read Oscar's letter once more.
  143. 143CHAPTER THE FORTY-THIRD
  144. 144Lucilla's Journal, continued
  145. 145"DEAR MR. FINCH,
  146. 146CHAPTER THE FORTY-FOURTH
  147. 147I denied being angry with him; I declared, once more, that I was only speaking the truth.
  148. 148CHAPTER THE FORTY-FOURTH
  149. 149Lucilla's Journal, continued
  150. 150I admitted that.
  151. 151I interrupted him by a question.
  152. 152I persisted in defending her. "She did that out of sympathy with me," I said.
  153. 153I remembered perfectly.
  154. 154I could no more believe it of her than I could have believed it of myself.
  155. 155"OSCAR."
  156. 156I thought this unanswerable. He had his reply to it ready, for all that.
  157. 157CHAPTER THE FORTY-FIFTH
  158. 158Lucilla's Journal, concluded
  159. 159I made him sit down by me on a little couch that just held two.
  160. 160I stopped him. "Going already?" I said. "It is not late yet.
  161. 161I must drop the pen, and try if I can think. My eyes completely fail me. I can write no more.
  162. 162"OSCAR."
  163. 163"OSCAR DUBOURG."
  164. 164CHAPTER THE FORTY-SIXTH
  165. 165The Italian Steamer
  166. 166I arrived at Marseilles, as well as I can remember, on the fifteenth of August.
  167. 167I went back to good Papa's bedside—satisfied, so far.
  168. 168I cordially approved of it; and waited for the results with all the patience that I could command.
  169. 169I had not been five minutes out, before I met my princely superintendent.
  170. 170I was greatly interested in watching the effect which these disclosures produced on Oscar.
  171. 171I said Yes, again—that one word, and no more.
  172. 172CHAPTER THE FORTY-SEVENTH
  173. 173I answered not a word to Oscar's protestations—I only searched vehemently in the pocket of my dress.
  174. 174I forced the card and the passport into his hands. He took them in helpless astonishment.
  175. 175I opened the letter.
  176. 176I flung open the door in a fury—and confronted Oscar on the threshold.
  177. 177CHAPTER THE FORTY-SEVENTH
  178. 178On the Way to the End. First Stage
  179. 179I find it by no means easy to do this. Oscar baffled me.
  180. 180I answered in the fewest and plainest words, "That is what your brother has done."
  181. 181I stopped Mr. Finch, in the act of maddening Oscar by administering pastoral consolation to him.
  182. 182I gave him my hand. He took it mechanically—absorbed in his own thoughts.
  183. 183I gathered, here and there, from what she said, some particulars worth mentioning.
  184. 184CHAPTER THE FORTY-EIGHTH
  185. 185On the Way to the End. Second Stage
  186. 186I could get no farther than that. He cut me short there, without ceremony.
  187. 187CHAPTER THE FORTY-NINTH
  188. 188On the Way to the End. Third Stage
  189. 189I looked at Oscar. He came slowly towards me from the other end of the room.
  190. 190CHAPTER THE FIFTIETH
  191. 191The End of the Journey
  192. 192EPILOGUE
  193. 193Madame Pratolungo's Last Words

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