ty years old,
being nominated for Confirmation. There was some disappointment that it
should be only at Poppleby, as furnishing so much less of a day's
pleasure; and when it was found that Mr Harford expected the candidates
at regular classes and private lectures, there were objections. Farm
lads could not be spared, maids in farmhouses still less.

"What should parson want to be always at 'em," said Mrs Goodenough.
"Old Mr Jones, he never made no work with them."

However, she had two daughters to be confirmed, and the reigning
"Lizzie" was allowed to go as an escort to them. The elder lads, who
were really grown men, would not come at all, and could never be found.
"They wouldn't be catechiz--not they." The Sunday scholars, male and
female, came pretty well, but not in large numbers, and the age fixed
for Confirmation was fifteen, so that those who were fresh from teaching
were not many. Sophia Carbonel was a candidate, and very much in
earnest, but Mr Harford preferred giving her books to read and
questions to answer in private, as with most of the others he had to
begin at the very beginning. The Misses Goodenough knew almost
nothing--far less than Susan Pucklechurch and Rachel Mole, who were the
gems of the female class, as was Johnnie Hewlett of that of the youths.
The brightest of these was, however, in some respects, Fred Allen, of
the general shop. He had been at school at Downhill, and could really
read and write better than Johnnie, and far better than any one else;
for the chief scholars only made what Betty Pucklechurch called "a sad
hackering job of un," and most scarcely knew a letter, having forgotten
whatever they might have learnt at Dame Verdon's before they went out
bird-starving. Fred Allen began by answering, when asked what was done
in Confirmation, "Taking all your godfather's and godmother's sins upon
you, and becoming liable to be balloted for the militia!" It was a
startling view, and, as far as Mr Harford could make out, it was shared
by most of the candidates; but, then, they had very little notion of
what sin meant, as, if they had a general idea, it was plain that they
did not seriously expect to suffer for their sponsors sins after
Confirmation, or that the sponsors suffered for theirs previously.

The curate taught, questioned, explained, and exhorted. Fred Allen knew
little, but his wits were sharper, and he took in Mr Harford's
instructions more readily, and remembered them