"I am astonished, my dear young friend," said the chaplain. "Is it possible the life you saved was imperilled by your own violent passions?"
"It is true, sir," replied Shuffles, hardly able to control his feelings.
"Then I think you had better not accept the promotion that has been offered to you."
"I will not; I would jump overboard first. I am willing to be punished; I deserve it."
"Shuffles, you have almost atoned for your errors by confessing them; and your courageous conduct, after you had pushed Pelham into the sea, proves that you sincerely repented that act. Shall I tell Mr. Lowington what you have said?"
"Yes, sir; let him know me as I am; let him despise me as I deserve," replied Shuffles, wiping away a genuine tear of repentance.
Mr. Agneau talked to the penitent for two hours; and finally he prayed with him and for him. If never before, the moral condition of the culprit was now hopeful, and the chaplain labored earnestly and faithfully to give him right views of his relations to God and his fellow-beings.
"Paul," said Shuffles, when he met his generous and self-sacrificing friend in the waist, after the conference in the state room, "I am the meanest and vilest fellow on board."
"No, you are not!" exclaimed Paul.
"I would give the world to be like you."