Clarence's queries had been snubbed into reserve, and I doubt
whether Miss Newton's theoretic theology was very much more
developed than that of Mrs. Gooch, but her practice and devotion
were admirable, and she fostered religious sentiment among us,
introducing little books which were welcome in the restricted range
of Sunday reading. Indeed, Mrs. Sherwood's have some literary
merit, and her Fairchild Family indulged in such delicious and
eccentric acts of naughtiness as quite atoned for all the religious
teaching, and fascinated Griff, though he was apt to be very
impatient of certain little affectionate lectures to which Clarence
listened meekly. My father and mother were both of the old-
fashioned orthodox school, with minds formed on Jeremy Taylor,
Blair, South, and Secker, who thought it their duty to go diligently
to church twice on Sunday, communicate four times a year (their only
opportunities), after grave and serious preparation, read a sermon
to their household on Sunday evenings, and watch over their
children's religious instruction, though in a reserved
undemonstrative manner. My father always read one daily chapter
with us every morning, one Psalm at family prayers, and my mother
made us repeat a few verses of Scripture before our other studies
began; besides which there was special teaching on Sunday, and an
abstinence from amusements, such as would now be called Sabbatarian,
but a walk in the Park with papa was so much esteemed that it made
the day a happy and honoured one to those who could walk.
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