90 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



good fortune." One of the best publishing 

 houses in London had promised to consider 

 his new novel which of his new novels was 

 it ? carefully. 



"I cannot help thinking that their ' full 

 consideration ' is a very promising phrase. I 

 really do think that I am now upon the thres- 

 hold of success. . . . The idea of writing the 

 book came to me by a kind of inspiration, and 

 not from study or thought. I am now en- 

 gaged upon a magazine article, which I think 

 will meet the taste of the public. Since 

 finishing the book, I have written a play which 

 can either be published or acted, as circum- 

 stances prove most propitious. I have also 

 sketched out a short tale, founded on fact, and 

 have sent the MS. of a history of Swindon to 

 the local paper, and expect a fair sum for it. 

 I am engaged to go to Gloucester next week 

 for a day perhaps two to report a trial. 

 So that you see I am not idle, and have my 

 hands as full as they can hold." 



Quite as full as they can hold ; and all the 

 time he is drifting further and further from 



