She had been
far more educated than he, having been born and bred up in the
household of one of those gentlemen who held it as their duty to
provide for the religious instruction of their servants.
She had been serving-woman to the lady, who in widowhood went to
reside at Bristol, and there during her marketings, honest John
Kenton had won her by his sterling qualities.
Puritanism did not mean nonconformity in her days, and in fact
everyone who was earnest and scrupulous was apt to be termed a
Puritan. Goodwife Kenton was one of those pious and simple souls who
drink in whatever is good in their surroundings; and though the
chaplain who had taught her in her youth would have differed in
controversy with Mr. Holworth, she never discovered their diversity,
nor saw more than that Elmwood Church had more decoration than the
Castle Chapel. Whatever was done by authority she thought was right,
and she found good reason for it in the Bible and Prayer-book her
good lady had given her. She had named her children after the
prevailing custom of Puritans because she had heard the chaplain
object to what he considered unhallowed heathenish names, but she had
been heartily glad that they should be taught and catechised by the
good vicar.
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