a wife that suits me down to the
ground, and a barrel of good Beaujolais. To this I must add that my
books grow steadily more popular, and if I could only avoid illness I
should be well to do for money, as it is, I keep pretty near the wind.
Have I other means? I doubt it. I saw Francois here; and it was in some
respects sad to see him, pining in the ungenial life and not, I think,
very well pleased with his relatives. The young men, it is true, adored
him, but his niece tried to pump me about what money I had, with an
effrontery I was glad to disappoint. How he spoke of you I need not tell
you. He is your true friend, dear Simoneau, and your ears should have
tingled when we met, for we talked of little but yourself.

The papers you speak about are past dates but I will send you a paper
from time to time, as soon as I am able to go out again. We were both
well pleased to hear of your marriage, and both Mrs. Stevenson and
myself beg to be remembered with the kindest wishes to Mrs. Simoneau. I
am glad you have done this. All races are better away from their own
country; but I think you French improve the most of all. At home, I like
you well enough, but give me the Frenchman abroad! Had you stayed at
home, you would probably have acted otherwise. Consult your
consciousness, and you will think as I do. How about a law condemning
the people of every country to be educated in another, to change sons in
short? Should we not gain all around? Would not the Englishman unlearn
hypocrisy? Would not the Frenchman learn to put some heart into his
friendships? I name what strikes me as the two most obvious defects of
the two nations. The French might also learn to be a little less
rapacious to women and the English to be a little more honest.

Indeed their merits and defects make a balance.

The English. The French.
hypocrites free from hypocrisy
good, stout reliable friends incapable of friendship
dishonest to the root fairly honest
fairly decent to women. rather indecent to women.

There is my table, not at all the usual one, but yes, I think you will
agree with it. And by travel, each race can cure much of its defects and
acquire much of the others' virtues. Let us say that you and I are
complete! You are anyway: I would not change a hair of you. The
Americans hold the English faults: dishonest and hypocrites, perhaps not
so strongly but st