had gone into a dirty
pool, and whom Rachel Mole and Betsy Seddon were brushing down
vigorously.

"Quite true, sir," returned Pucklechurch. "They young dogs got behind,
and played the poor maids this trick."

"Who did?" demanded Mr Harford.

Bessy Linwood spoke up and said it was "all on 'em," but she saw Fred
Allen at it.

No doubt, the fun of the thing had been too much for the boys, in their
holiday mood of thoughtlessness, and they stood looking sheepish, but
Mr Harford was very stern and sharp with them.

"Lads, do you think that, if you could play such a trick, you can be in
a fit state to take solemn vows upon you?"

No one spoke up except Fred Allen. "We didn't do 'em no harm," he said.

"No harm! To disturb all good thoughts in their minds and your own, and
drive out all serious impressions by this mischievous trick! Now, will
any one come forward and say he is sorry?"

Mr Harford waited, but no one stirred. He bade the girls get in again,
and Pucklechurch drive them on. He waited again, but no one spoke.
Indeed, Allen and another big youth were seen making for a gap in the
hedge.

"Will no one say he is sorry for what was an idle trick, but very wrong
when you ought to be thinking how you would be giving yourselves up to
God?"

They stood like stocks, and Captain Carbonel said, "Has no one the grace
to regret a very improper and thoughtless action?"

Still no one moved.

"Then," said the clergyman, "there is no choice left to me. It would be
profanation to take persons in such a mood to make vows, and kneel to
receive God's grace, which they evidently make light of. Whoever will
not come and apologise must go home."

There was no movement among the white round frocks. Boys are like
sheep: what one does, the others do, and few are to be found to stand
alone. Mr Harford looked anxiously at Johnnie Hewlett and one or two
more, from whom he expected better things, but they only looked down,
with their hands in their pockets and sullen faces; and Captain Carbonel
held up his watch to show that they should all be too late. There was
nothing to be done but to return to their seats, and urge the post-boy
to hurry on.

The bells of Poppleby church might ring merrily, but the heart of the
curate was very heavy with the questions--whether this misfortune could
be owing to his not having impressed the lads enough while preparing
them, or to his having been too hasty and peremptory in his ind