my mind was so constantly set.

II.

It was but natural and wholly consistent that I should choose an
unassuming and grave lodging-house on my arrival at the place of my
destination; for, apart from my predilection of religious tenets, quietude
is closely allied to much thought; and while my training had made me
desire the quietude as a part and portion of the best of life, friend
Barbara had made thought inexpressibly pleasant and wholesome to me. There
were men all around me who had, perhaps, little or no thought of
religion--that is, the emotion of religion, which is so often confounded
with religion itself--yet when I made known my wishes of a quiet home to
them they assisted me without the usual looking askance at my plain garb
and manner of speech. Was I not a man like themselves? were not my
functions as their own? Take away what each of us looked upon as faults in
the other, and we were equals and alike. I made my request boldly: had I
minced the matter and felt a shame in it, I might have merited all the
ridicule which men morally and physically strong, or men morally and
physically diseased, usually throw upon a conscious weakness which would
pass for something else. I was recommended to many houses, only they all
had the great drawback--many other lodgers. At last some one proposed Jane
Afton's house: that was quiet enough, they assured me, but the greatest
objection to any paled when in comparison with this: she had a demented
woman in charge--harmless, but wholly astray from sense.

"I assure thee," I said to friend Afton, "I fear not the minds of people:
the body does the harm in this world."

"In that case you have come to the right house," said she. "For Fanny
Jordan is a little, slight woman without strength, and her insanity is
from religion."

And so on my first day in the place I found my lodging-house. It might
have been more conciliating to my mind had friend Afton not attempted the
use of the plain language, for she made but a sorry attempt at it at best.

"Thee's trunk is arrived, and thee's hat-box is smashed by the lout of a
boy that brought it," she said; and this is merely a specimen of her
manner. It was grating upon me, but I forbore to make remark, as I have no
doubt her principle was all that could be desired, although it was faulty
in its constructive carrying out. I may safely say that I did not remember
there was another lodger besides myself in her house when I retired for
th