him, that, "under Providence, he owed his escape from death to the kind
manner in which Captain Frere had spoken of him."

"I hope your escape will be a warning to you, my man," said Mr. Meekin,
"and that you will endeavour to make the rest of your life, thus spared
by the mercy of Providence, an atonement for your early errors."

"Indeed I will, sir," said John Rex, who had taken Mr. Meekin's measure
very accurately, "and it is very kind of you to condescend to speak so
to a wretch like me."

"Not at all," said Meekin, with affability; "it is my duty. I am a
Minister of the Gospel."

"Ah! sir, I wish I had attended to the Gospel's teachings when I was
younger. I might have been saved from all this."

"You might, indeed, poor man; but the Divine Mercy is infinite--quite
infinite, and will be extended to all of us--to you as well as to me."
(This with the air of saying, "What do you think of that!") "Remember
the penitent thief, Rex--the penitent thief."

"Indeed I do, sir."

"And read your Bible, Rex, and pray for strength to bear your
punishment."

"I will, Mr. Meekin. I need it sorely, sir--physical as well as
spiritual strength, sir--for the Government allowance is sadly
insufficient."

"I will speak to the authorities about a change in your dietary scale,"
returned Meekin, patronizingly. "In the meantime, just collect together
in your mind those particulars of your adventures of which you spoke,
and have them ready for me when next I call. Such a remarkable history
ought not to be lost."

"Thank you kindly, sir. I will, sir. Ah! I little thought when I
occupied the position of a gentleman, Mr. Meekin"--the cunning scoundrel
had been piously grandiloquent concerning his past career--"that I
should be reduced to this. But it is only just, sir."

"The mysterious workings of Providence are always just, Rex," returned
Meekin, who preferred to speak of the Almighty with well-bred vagueness.

"I am glad to see you so conscious of your errors. Good morning."

"Good morning, and Heaven bless you, sir," said Rex, with his tongue in
his cheek for the benefit of his yard mates; and so Mr. Meekin tripped
gracefully away, convinced that he was labouring most successfully in
the Vineyard, and that the convict Rex was really a superior person.

"I will send his narrative to the Bishop," said he to himself. "It will
amuse him. There must be many strange histories here, if one could but
find them out."

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