Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 1.djvu/227

 the enemy’s fleet would come out, and that I might die, as I have lived, defending my country. But, Mr. Mildmay, I have one very important question to ask you—do you believe that there is such a thing as a future state?”

"Most surely,” said I; "though we all live as if we believed there was no such thing: but why do you doubt it?”

“Because,” said the poor fellow, "when I was an officer’s servant, I was one day tending the table in the wardroom, and I heard the commander of a sloop of war, who was dining there with his son, say that it was all nonsense—that there was no future state, and the Bible was a heap of lies. I have never been happy since.”

I told him that I was extremely sorry that any officer should have used such expressions at all, particularly before him; that I was incapable of restoring his mind to its proper state; but that I should recommend his immediately sending for the chaplain, who, I had no doubt,