"I am grateful to you for the interest you have taken in me, and I assure you I have often been encouraged to do well by your kind words," continued the penitent, with due humility. "I have done wrong, and I don't deserve to be forgiven."
"'He that humbleth himself shall be exalted,'" said Mr. Agneau, gratified at the great change which had apparently been wrought in the prisoner. "If you are really sorry for your offence, Mr. Lowington, I doubt not, will pardon you, and restore you to favor again."
"I don't deserve it, sir. Since you left me, I have been thinking of my past life. I dare not tell you how bad I have been."
"You need not tell me. It is not necessary that you should confess your errors to me. There is One who knows them, and if you are sincerely repentant He will pity and forgive you."
"I think I should feel better if I told some one of my misdeeds."
"Perhaps you would; that is for you to judge. I will speak to Mr. Lowington about you to-night. What shall I say to him?"
"I hardly know. I deserve to be punished. I have done wrong, and am willing to suffer for it."
The tender-hearted chaplain thought that Shuffles was in a beautiful state of mind, and he desired to have him released at once, that he might converse with him on great themes under more favorable circumstances; but Shuffles still detained him.
"I'm afraid I have ruined myself on board this ship," continued Shuffles, persisting in his self-humiliation.
"If you manfully acknowledge your fault, you will be freely and generously forgiven."