36 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



there was little communion ; the one went his 

 way, and the other his. There was perhaps 

 rather an inclination to detract from each 

 other's achievements than to praise them, a 

 species of jealousy or envy without personal 

 dislike, if that can be understood. They were 

 good friends, and yet kept apart. 



" Oliver made friends of all, and thwacked 

 and banged his enemies into respectful silence. 

 Felix made friends of none, and was equally 

 despised by nominal friends and actual 

 enemies. Oliver was open and jovial ; Felix 

 reserved and contemptuous, or sarcastic in 

 manner. His slender frame, too tall for his 

 width, was against him ; he could neither lift 

 the weights nor undergo the muscular strain 

 readily borne by Oliver. It was easy to see 

 that Felix, although nominally the eldest, had 

 not yet reached his full development. A light- 

 complexion, fair hair and eyes, were also 

 against him ; where Oliver made conquests, 

 Felix was unregarded. He laughed, but per- 

 haps his secret pride was hurt." 



After his return from Sydenham the boy, as 

 I have said, went to school for a year or two 



