Stevens had neither done nor said
anything which might be construed into an offence. And yet, nobody
knew better than Stevens that he had been offensive. The worthy
John Cross, in the simplicity of his nature, never dreamed of this,
but, on the contrary, when our adventurer dilated in the fatherly
manner already adverted to, be looked upon himself as particularly
favored of Heaven, in falling upon a youth, as a pupil, of such
unctuous moral delivery.
"Surely," he mused internally, "this is a becoming instrument which
I have found, for the prosecution of the good work. He will bear
the word like one sent forth to conquer. He will bind and loose
with a strong hand. He will work wondrous things!"
Not unlike these were the calculations of old Hinkley, as he
hearkened to the reverend reasonings and the solemn commonplaces
of the stranger. Stevens, like most recent converts, was the most
uncompromising enemy of those sins from which he professed to have
achieved with difficulty his own narrow escape; and finding, from
the attentive ear of his audience, that he had made a favorable
impression, he proceeded to manufacture for them his religious
experience; an art which his general information, and knowledge of
the world enabled him to perform without much difficulty.
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