Tongues of Conscience

"Tongues of Conscience" by Robert Hichens is a story set in the late 19th century. It's about guilt, regret, and people's minds as it looks at the lives of Rev. Peter Uniacke, a church leader who is trying to understand the bad parts of people, and Sir Graham Hamilton, an artist who is bothered by what he did in the past and what he wanted to achieve with his art. They talk on a faraway island, showing deep thoughts about life, death, and being responsible. The story starts with a big difference between busy London nights and peaceful country life, making a thoughtful feeling. Rev. Peter Uniacke thinks about the night coming and the restless spirits in the graveyard, meeting Sir Graham Hamilton, who wants to get away from being famous and his health problems. Their talk talks about love, loss, and the weight of feeling guilty, especially through Hamilton's memories of a boy named Jack, whose fate he thinks he caused. This sad story has a feeling of mystery, hinting that secrets about the characters' inner struggles will come out.