“I returned to old Roberts, and informed him that the clergyman would be with him in an hour or two, but I found the old man already hesitating and doubting again:—
“‘You didn’t tell him what it was for, did you? for perhaps—’
“‘Yes, I did. I told him you had an important secret to communicate that lay heavy on your conscience.’
“‘I’m sadly puzzled,’ said the old man, musing.
“‘Well,’ replied I, ‘I’m not puzzled; and if you don’t confess, I must. I won’t have my conscience loaded, poor fellow that I am; and if you choose to die with the sin upon you of depriving the orphan, I will not.’
“‘I’ll tell—tell it all—it’s the best way,’ replied old Roberts, after a pause.
“‘There now,’ said I, ‘the best thing to be done is for me to get paper and pen, and write it all down for Mr Sewell to read when he comes; then you need not have to repeat it all again.’
“‘Yes, that will be best, for I couldn’t face the clergyman.’
“‘Then how can you expect to face the Almighty?’ replied I.
“‘True—very true: get the paper,’ said he.