278 THE EULOGY OF RICHARD JEFFERIES. 



Everybody knows this kind. The pervert 

 the renegade is the fiercest of persecutors, the 

 most intolerant in practice. The bitterness in 

 his mind is caused, or it is increased, by the 

 galling fact that though he is a rebel, he is 

 always, whatever sect he has abandoned, an 

 unsuccessful rebel. His old king yet reigneth ; 

 he cannot dethrone that king ; it is impossible 

 for him ; at the most he can but seduce from 

 their allegiance a few, and for all his railing 

 the loyal subjects of that king remain loyal. 



Jeiferies, for his part, has no agonies of soul 

 to chronicle, nor does he watch for and set 

 down the stages of unbelief, nor does he tell 

 us of any arguments with friends. The 

 local curate is never considered or consulted ; 

 friends are neglected; and he is not in the 

 least degree angry with those who remain 

 loyal to their old religion. 



In point of fact, this remarkable book never 

 mentions the old religion at all. This is a 

 very singular even an unique method of 

 treatment. There is no question of the 

 common lines of research : not one of them is 

 followed. The author begins, and he goes on, 



