beginning to ask herself WHY certain 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