AndnoframeofmindwaseversoselfcontradictoryandyetsorealisticasthatwhichDickensdescribeswhenhesays，ineffect，that，thoughPinchknewnowthattherehadneverbeensuchapersonasPecksniff，inhisidealsense，hecouldnotbringhimselftoinsulttheveryfaceandformthathadcontainedthelegend。TheparallelwithLiberaljournalismisnotperfect；becauseitwasoncehonest；andPecksniffpresumablyneverwas。AndevenwhenIcometofeelafinalincompatibilityoftemper，PecksniffwasnotsoPecksniffianashehassincebecome。ButthecomparisoniscompleteinsofarasIshareallthereluctanceofMr。
Pinch。SomeoldheathenkingwasadvisedbyoneoftheCelticsaints，I
think，toburnwhathehadadoredandadorewhathehadburnt。Iamquiteready，ifanyonewillproveIwaswrong，toadorewhatIhaveburnt；butI
doreallyfeelanunwillingnessverginguponweaknesstoburningwhatI
haveadored。Ithinkitisaweaknesstobeovercomeintimesasbadasthese，whenasMr。Oragewrotewithsomethinglikesplendidcommonsensetheotherdaythereissuchalottodoandsofewpeoplewhowilldoit。