‘And God has made you see your sins, my poor boy,’ said Mr. Cope. ‘That is a great blessing.’
‘But if I can’t do anything to make up for them, what’s the use? And I never shall be well again.’
‘You can’t make up for them; but there is One Who has made up for them, if you will only truly repent.’
‘I wasn’t sorry till I knew I should die,’ said Alfred.
‘No, your sins did not come home to you! Now, do you know what they are?’
‘Oh yes; I’ve been a bad boy to Mother, and at church; and I’ve been cross to Ellen, and quarrelled with Harold; and I was so audacious at my Lady’s, they couldn’t keep me. I never did want really to be good. Oh! I know I shall go to the bad place!’
‘No, Alfred, not if you so repent, that you can hold to our Blessed Saviour’s promise. There is a fountain open for sin and all uncleanness.’
‘It is very good of Him,’ said Alfred, a little more tranquilly, not in the half-sob in which he had before spoken.
‘Most merciful!’ said Mr. Cope.
‘But does it mean me?’ continued Alfred.