I saw that my very illness had been, in God's hands, a means to lead
me nearer to it. As soon as ever I was strong enough, I started; and
you may think me fanciful, sir, but I can tell you that, as sure as I
sit here, every step of the way has been smoothed for me by the
Divine hand. The people have been so kind all the way (for I am a
poor man); and I have other signs--other assurances--'

"He broke off, hesitated, and resumed his sentence at the beginning:

"'The people have been so kind. I think the Americans must be the
kindest people in the world; and good too. I cannot believe that all
the wickedness they talk of out yonder can come from anything but
ignorance of the Word. I am certain it cannot. And that encourages
me mightily. Why, down in Bellefont they told me that Eucalyptus
here was a little nest of iniquity; they spoke of it as of some City
of the Plain. And what have I found? Well, the people are indeed as
sheep without a shepherd; and who can wonder, seeing that there is
not a single House of Prayer kept open in the municipality? There is
a great deal of coarse levity, and even profanity of speech, and, I
fear, much immoderate drinking; but these are the effects of
blindness rather than of wickedness. From the heavier sins--from
what I may call actual, conscious vice--Eucalyptus is singularly
free. Miss Montmorency, indeed, tells me that in her experience
(which, of course, is that of a single lady, and therefore
restricted) the moral tone of the town is surprisingly healthy.
You understand that I give her judgment no more than its due weight.
Still, Miss Montmorency has lived here three years; and for a single
lady (and, I may add, the only lady in the place) to pass three years
in it entirely unmolested--'