which were very curious; for
Mrs Carbonel found a child who had fits wearing, in a bag, a pinch of
black hair from the cross on the back of a jackass; and once, when she
objected to a dirty mark on the throat of Susan Pucklechurch, she was
told it was left by a rasher of bacon put on to cure a sore throat.

The symptoms were sometimes curious as she now found when she went to
inquire after Dame Verdon, who, Lizzie informed her, had her heart
hanging by only one string, and when that gave way, she would not be
here.

For the present, however, she was in bed, under a quilt made of coloured
cloth scraps; but however it might be with her heart-strings, she did
not seem likely to get up again. It was hay time, and it appeared that
no one did come to school in hay and harvest seasons, so that there was
time to consider what could be done. Dr Fogram was invited to dinner
to hold consultation with the ladies, whom the captain would not leave
to any conclusion as to the schools.

There were no such things as trained masters and mistresses in those
days; the National Society had only been in existence eleven years, and
Government had not taken up the matter at all. Educated and religious
people had, however, come to the conclusion that it would be well to
help all the village children to know their faith and duty, and to read
their Bibles; and the good work of Mrs Hannah More and Mrs Trimmer
were examples that had begun to be followed, now that the one was in
extreme old age, and the other in her grave. The Carbonel family had
been bred up to such work, and all of them knew a good deal more about
it than the President, whose studies had been chiefly in Greek plays,
and whose tasks had been dealing with young men and the college estates.
His conscience as a clergyman was a good deal stirred by the condition
of his parish, and he was really thankful to those who would take up the
matter, as well as ready to assist with his purse.

So it was settled that Mrs Carbonel should write about a widow at her
old home, who had once been a servant in the family. She was known to
be a good religious person, who could read, and write, and cast accounts
quite well enough for any possibly advanced scholars, as well as being a
beautiful needlewoman. An old friend went to see her, explain the
situation to her, and ascertain if she were willing to undertake the
school for twenty pounds a year, and what the children could pay.

A cottage