She was puzzled to understand what
right Madge had to her name. Who had any authority to say she was to
be called Madge Hopgood? She determined at last to pray to God and
again ask her mother's help.
She did pray earnestly that very night, and had not finished until
long after Madge had said her Lord's Prayer. This was always said
night and morning, both by Madge and Clara. They had been taught it
by their mother. It was, by the way, one of poor Selina's troubles
that Madge said nothing but the Lord's Prayer when she lay down and
when she rose; of course, the Lord's Prayer was the best--how could
it be otherwise, seeing that our Lord used it?--but those who
supplemented it with no petitions of their own were set down as
formalists, and it was always suspected that they had not received
the true enlightenment from above. Selina cried to God till the
counterpane was wet with her tears, but it was the answer from her
mother which came first, telling her that however praiseworthy her
intentions might be, argument with such a DANGEROUS infidel as Madge
would be most perilous, and she was to desist from it at once. Mrs
Fish had by that post written to Miss Pratt, the schoolmistress, and
Selina no doubt would not be exposed to further temptation. Mrs
Fish's letter to Miss Pratt was very strong, and did not mince
matters. She informed Miss Pratt that a wolf was in her fold, and
that if the creature were not promptly expelled, Selina must be
removed into safety.
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