"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 indignation. Captain Carbonel said they were such intolerable louts that to disappoint them was all the better, and they would know how to present themselves more seriously another time, but Mr Harford much doubted whether they would ever present themselves again. "It would just be mockery for them to make the vow," said the captain. "Ah! they miss the grace," said the curate. Harriet Allen was crying all through the time of the Confirmation when she perceived that her brother's head was not among the boys. Indeed the only male candidate from Uphill was Will Cox, who had gone with his cousins from Downhill. Most of the boys were glad to have got off making the vow, for, in spite of all Mr Harford's teaching, there were some who still believed that they would take all their god-parents' sins upon them, or, at any rate, that they should feel more bound to take heed to their ways. Johnnie Hewlett indeed was sorry when he went home to his aunt, and had to tell her why he had not been confirmed after all. "Oh, Johnnie, Johnnie, you didn't go for to upset the maids?" "I? No. I was at the bottom of the hill with Harry Coles." "Then why couldn't you have said so?" He hung his head and twisted his hands. "Oh, Johnnie, what was it? Was it only the going along with the others?" Still he made no reply, but Judith saw in his face that this was the reason. "Oh, my boy! To think that you did not feel that God's blessing and grace were worth standing out for against a lot of idle chaps; and now you won't be able to take the Sacrament!" "Father never would let I," returned the boy.