The patient rather consented, than desired it.
There was the next day a much longer conversation between the patient and his young nurse, in which he took occasion to utter opinions upon religious matters quite heretical.
“I did not come hither, captain,” said Amelia, “to dispute upon religious subjects with you. I am no disputant. It is my duty, however, to say distinctly, lest you should mistake my silence, that in my opinion you are quite wrong, and that your present situation is such as to render your irreligious impressions the more fearful to me as they are the more dangerous to you.”
“Why then will you not discuss the question of the truth of Christianity with me?”
“Simply because I do not think that I am competent to the task; and—but no.”
“What do you mean by your unassigned second reason?”
“I mean simply that I do not think you wish to be convinced of the truth of religion.”
“That is hard—but I do wish to believe it if it is true.”
“Captain Wilkinson, if you really wish to believe in the great truths of Christianity, I will invite the clergyman to come down hither and converse with you. Tell me—not now, but tell me after thinking maturely upon it, say this evening, whether you really desire information.”
At night it was again Amelia’s turn to sit with the patient. He intimated that he continued of the same opinion.