'No,' I said, hastily brushing away my tears, and smiling at his gloomy tone; 'I shall not be a bit dreary; how could I be!'
'I wish you would explain a few things to me, and then perhaps I should understand better. Do you consider us all dreadful sinners here?'
'I judge no one, Captain Gates. It seems to me you must have something to fill your life and interest and occupy you, and if you haven't got what I have, you must have worldly amusements.'
'And what have you got that we have not?'
I was silent for a moment, then I said,—
'Do you ever read your Bible, Captain Gates?'
'Not often.'
'You will find a great deal about the Christian's portion there, if you look; but I suppose the summing up of it all is just Christ Himself. If we have Him we want nothing more.'
There was another silence.
At length he said meditatively, 'I should like to be enlightened. Will you come for a row on the river to-morrow, and let us thrash the subject out?'