134 THE LIFE OF RICHARD JEFFERIES 



rather far when at full cock, that was because the lock 

 had been converted from a flint, and you could not 

 expect it to be absolutely perfect. Besides which, as 

 the fall was longer the blow was heavier, and the cap 

 was sure to explode.'* 



It is all so easy and natural ; the boy's and man's heart 

 is, and has been for twenty years, in these things ; and 

 when such a one is remembering and calling for power 

 to write them down, it will go hard if he is not answered. 

 There can be no doubt that Jefferies was answered. He 

 goes to an old mansion left by the family in the hands of 

 butler, and keeper, and maids ; his friend Dickon is in 

 love with one of the maids, and takes him there ; and 

 their merry irresponsibility and lawless shooting in the 

 woods slip into the simple, unelaborate sentences with 

 perfect truth. With still something of ' The Game- 

 keeper ' spirit he labels the roguish Oby as poacher, 

 fighting man, ' hardened against shame, an Ishmaelite 

 openly contemning authority and yet not insensible to 

 kindness '; but then gives his history with gusto, though 

 without seeming to commit himself, by putting it into 

 the old man's mouth. Luke, the pitiful rheumy rabbit 

 contractor, with his doddering artfulness, is another 

 character honestly set down. Huge Little John ferreting, 

 intent as a dog, and impatient of any method but his 

 own, * wristing ' the rabbits' necks with quiet satisfaction, 

 is equally good. The talk of these men lacks the liveli- 

 ness and humour of Edwin Waugh's Lancashire sketches, 

 yet there is never a false note. They live. The great 

 heavy-laden waggon of life goes rocking down the lanes, 

 and the artist gathers up some of the wisps from the elm- 

 trees when it has passed. The waggon and the load dis- 

 appear, but there are the wisps wagging in the sun and rain 

 of late autumn, of winter, of spring, and of returning 

 summer, and to us who cannot gather them so, blessed are 

 those who can, like Jefferies. If the crop be poor, it was 

 grown in the earth, and has its value for us who descend 



* The A mateiir Poacher. 



