Falkner by Mary Shelley

From this time their homeward journey was more prosperous. They arrived safely at Lyons, and thence proceeded to Basle -- to take advantage again of river navigation; the motion of a carriage being so inimical to the invalid. They proceeded down the Rhine to Rotterdam, and crossing the sea, returned at last to England, after an absence of four years.

This journey, though at first begun in terror and danger, grew less hazardous at each mile they traversed towards the North; and while going down the Rhine, Falkner and his adopted daughter spent several tranquil and happy hours -- comparing the scenery they saw to other and distant landscapes -- and recalling incidents that had occurred many years ago. Falkner exerted himself for Elizabeth's sake -- she had suffered so much, and he had inflicted so much anguish upon her while endeavouring to free himself from the burden of life, that he felt remorse at having thus trifled with the deepest emotions of her heart -- and anxious to recall the more pleasurable sensations adapted to her age. The listless, yet pleasing feelings attendant on convalescence influenced his mind also -- and he enjoyed a peace to which he had long been a stranger.