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Poor Miss Finch
by Wilkie Collins
TO MRS。 ELLIOT；
（OF THE DEANERY； BRISTOL）。
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…contradictionsin its intricate mixture of good and evil； of great
and smallas 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
misunderstoodsometimes even resentedin certain quarters。 However；
Time has stood my friend in relation to other characters of mine in other
booksand 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 advocateand
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。
NOTE TO THE PRESENT EDITION。
IN expressing my acknowledgments for the favorable reception accorded to
the previous editions of this story； I may take the present opportunity
of adverting to one of the characters； not alluded to in the Letter of
Dedication。 The German oculist〃Herr Grosse〃has impressed himself so
strongly as a real personage on the minds of some of my readers afflicted
with blindness； or suffering from diseases of the eye； that I have
received several written applications requesting me to communicate his
present address to patients desirous of consulting him！ Sincerely
appreciating the testimony thus rendered to the truth of this little
study of character； I have been obliged to acknowledge to my
correspondentsand I may as well repeat it herethat Herr Grosse has no
（individual） living prototype。 Like the other Persons of the Drama； in
this book and in the books which have preceded it； he is drawn from my
general observation of humanity。 I have always considered it to be a
mistake in Art to limit the delineation of character in fiction to a
literary portrait taken from any one 〃sitter。〃 The result of this process
is generally （to my mind） to produce a caricature instead of a character。
November 27th； 1872
POOR MISS FINCH
CHAPTER THE FIRST
Madame Pratolungo presents Herself
You are here invited to read the story of an Event which occurred in an
out…of…the…way corner of England； some years since。
The persons principally concerned in the Event are：a blind girl； two
（twin） brothers； a skilled surgeon； and a curious foreign woman。 I am the
curious foreign woman。 And I take it on myselffor reasons which will
presently appearto tell the story。
So far we understand each other。 Good。 I may make myself known to you as
briefly as I can。
I am Madame Pratolungowidow of that celebrated South American patriot；
Doctor Pratolungo。 I am French by birth。 Before I married the Doctor； I
went through many vicissitudes in my own country。 They ended in leaving
me （at an age which is of no consequence to anybody） with some experience
of the world； with a cultivated musical talent on the pianoforte； and
with a comfortable little fortune unexpectedly bequeathed to me by a
relative of my dear dead mother （which fortune I shared with good Papa
and with my younger sisters）。 To these qualifications I added another；
the most precious of all； when I married the Doctor； namelya strong
infusion of ultra…liberal principles。 _Vive la Re'publique！_
Some people do one thing； and some do another； in the way of celebrating
the event of their marriage。 Having become man and wife； Doctor
Pratolungo and I took ship to Central Americaand devoted our
honey…moon； in those disturbed districts； to the sacred duty of
destroying tyrants。
Ah！ the vital air of my noble husband was the air of revolutions。 From
his youth upwards he had followed the glorious profession of Patriot。
Wherever the people of the Southern New World rose and declared their
independenceand； in my time； that fervent population did nothing
elsethere was the Doctor self…devoted on the altar of his adopted
country。 He had been fifteen times exiled； and condemned to death in his
absence； when I met with him in Paristhe picture of heroic poverty；
with a brown complexion and one lame leg。 Who could avoid falling in love
with such a man？ I was proud when he proposed to devote me on the altar
of his adopted country； as well as himselfme； and my money。 For； alas！
everything is expensive in this world； including the destruction of
tyrants and the saving of Freedom。 All my money went in helping the
sacred cause of the people。 Dictators and filibusters flourished in spite
of us。 Before we had been a year married； the Doctor had to fly （for the
sixteenth time） to escape being tried for his life。 My husband condemned
to death in his absence； and I with my pockets empty。 This is how the
Republic rewarded us。 And yet； I love the Republic。 Ah； you
monarchy…people； sitting fat and contented under tyrants； respect that！
This time； we took refuge in England。 The affairs of Central America went
on without us。
I thought of giving lessons in music。 But my glorious husband could not
spare me away from him。 I suppose we should have starved； and made a sad
little paragraph in the English newspapersif the end had not come in
another way。 My poor Pratolungo was in truth worn out。 He sank under his
sixteenth exile。 I was left a widowwith nothing but the inheritance of
my husband's noble sentiments to console me。
I went back for awhile to good Papa and my sisters in Paris。 But it was
not in my nature to remain and be a burden on them at home。 I returned
again to London； with recommendations： and encountered inconceivable
disasters in the effort to earn a living honorably。 Of all the wealth
about methe prodigal； insolent； ostentatious wealthnone fell to my
share。 What right has anybody to be rich？ I defy you； whoever you may be；
to prove that anybody has a right to be rich。
Without dwelling on my disasters； let it be enough to say that I got up
one morning； with three pounds； seven shillings； and fourpence in my
purse； with my fervid temper； and my republican principlesand with
absolutely nothing in prospect； that is to say with not a halfpenny more
to come to me； unless I could earn it for myself。
In this sad case； what does an honest woman who is bent on winning her
own independence by her own work； do？ She takes three and sixpence out of
her little humble store； and she advertises herself in a newspaper。
One always advertises the best side of oneself。 （Ah； poor humanity！） My
best side was my musical side。 In the days of my vicissitudes （before my
marriage） I had at one time had a share in a millinery establishment in
Lyons。 At another time； I had been bedchamber…woman to a great lady in
Paris。 But in my present situation； these sides of myself were； for
various reasons； not so presentable as the pianoforte side。 I was not a
great playerfar from it。 But I had been soundly instructed； and I had；
what you call； a competent skill on the instrument。 Brief； I made the
best of myself； I promise you； in my advertisement。
The next day； I borrowed the newspaper； to enjoy the pride of seeing my
composition in print。
Ah； heaven！ what did I discover？ I discovered