The month of May opened with a heavy fall of
snow, which has only slowly melted away beneath
the hot sunlight of midday. The climate is
obviously uncertain whether it ought to consider
itself summer or winter, and the country is equally
uncertain whether it is to regard the condition of
affairs as one of peace or war. The truth is, that
Denmark — not, I grant, by her own fault, but by
the necessities of her position — has fallen into that
state of mind immortalised by Wilkins Micawber,
when a man lives on for years, amidst increasing
embarrassments, trusting always that something
will turn up. Persons whose lot has thrown them
into contact in private life with men inspired with
this belief, must have observed with what an un-
reasoning faith its devotees cling to the idea that
some unforeseen stroke of fortune is to relieve them
from their difficulties, how resolutely they refuse
to look facts in the face, and how confidently they
trust that somebody or other must be forthcoming
to pull them out of the ditch. I was once ac-

VOL. II. B



242 THE SCHLESWIG-HOLSTEIN WAR.
