Page:Heroines of freethought (IA cu31924031228699).pdf/186

178 thoress denies. ‘I am not aware,’ says Miss Martineau, ‘of having lost any friends whatever by this book, while I have gained a new world of sympathy.' In fact, most persons regarded this singular lady as sui generis, and would never dream of binding her by the fixed and settled rules.”

Indeed, Harriet Martineau was not one to allow her friendships, or any like selfish consideration, to overbalance her “fidelity to conscience,” and the knowledge of her uncompromising honesty of character could not fail to make her friends respect and admire her, however much they might dissent from her conclusions on theology.

All through this book (“Laws of Man's Nature and Development”) there runs a tone of glad defiance of what the world may choose to think of her, and of restful triumph over her own educational prejudices.

"To me it seems absolutely necessary, as well as the greatest possible relief,” she says, on page 222, “to come to a plain understand-