Clara Hopgood

Both Clara and Madge went first to an English day-school, and Clara

went straight from this school to Germany, but Madge's course was a

little different. She was not very well, and it was decided that she

should have at least a twelvemonth in a boarding-school at Brighton

before going abroad. It had been very highly recommended, but the

head-mistress was Low Church and aggressive. Mr Hopgood, far away

from the High and Low Church controversy, came to the conclusion

that, in Madge's case, the theology would have no effect on her. It

was quite impossible, moreover, to find a school which would be just

what he could wish it to be. Madge, accordingly, was sent to

Brighton, and was introduced into a new world. She was just

beginning to ask herself whycertain things were right and other

things were wrong, and the Brighton answer was that the former were

directed by revelation and the latter forbidden, and that the 'body'

was an affliction to the soul, a means of 'probation,' our principal

duty being to 'war' against it.

Madge's bedroom companion was a Miss Selina Fish, daughter of

Barnabas Fish, Esquire, of Clapham, and merchant of the City of

London. Miss Fish was not traitorous at heart, but when she found

out that Madge had not been christened, she was so overcome that she

was obliged to tell her mother. Miss Fish was really unhappy, and

one cold night, when Madge crept into her neighbour's bed, contrary

to law, but in accordance with custom when the weather was very

bitter, poor Miss Fish shrank from her, half-believing that something

dreadful might happen if she should by any chance touch unbaptised,

naked flesh. Mrs Fish told her daughter that perhaps Miss Hopgood

might be a Dissenter, and that although Dissenters were to be pitied,

and even to be condemned, many of them were undoubtedly among the

redeemed, as for example, that man of God, Dr Doddridge, whose Family

Expositor was read systematically at home, as Selina knew. Then

there were Matthew Henry, whose commentary her father preferred to

any other, and the venerable saint, the Reverend William Jay of Bath,

whom she was proud to call her friend. Miss Fish, therefore, made

further inquiries gently and delicately, but she found to her horror

that Madge had neither been sprinkled nor immersed! Perhaps she was

a Jewess or a heathen! This was a happy thought, for then she might

be converted. Selina knew what interest her mother took in missions

to heathens and Jews; and if Madge, by the humble instrumentality of

a child, could be brought to the foot of the Cross, what would her

mother and father say? What would they not say? Fancy taking Madge

to Clapham in a nice white dress--it should be white, thought Selina-

-and presenting her as a saved lamb!