godfather, he held himself bound to take an interest in our
religious life, while the sponsors, whose names stood in the family
Bible, and whose spoons reposed in the plate-chest, never troubled
themselves on the matter. I remember Clarence leaning over me and
saying, 'Mr. Castleford thinks I might be confirmed. He says it is
not so much the promise we make as of coming to Almighty God for
strength to keep what we are bound by already! He is going to speak
to papa.'

Perhaps no one except Mr. Castleford could have prevailed over the
fear of profanation in the mind of my father, who was, in his old-
fashioned way, one of the most reverent of men, and could not bear
to think of holy things being approached by one under a stigma, nor
of exposing his son to add to his guilt by taking and breaking
further pledges. However, he was struck by his friend's arguments,
and I heard him telling my mother that when he had wished to wait
till there had been time to prove sincerity of repentance by a
course of steadiness, the answer had been that it was hard to
require strength, while denying the means of grace. My mother was
scarcely convinced, but as he had consented she yielded without a
protest; and she was really glad that I should have Clarence at my
side to help me at the ceremony. The clergyman was applied to, and
consented to let Clarence attend the classes, where his knowledge,
comprehension, and behaviour were exemplary, so that a letter was
written to my father expressive of perfect satisfaction with him.
'There,' said my father, 'I knew it would be so! It is not THAT
which I want.'

The Confirmation seemed at the time a very short and perfunctory
result of our preparation; and, as things were conducted or