human
What is it? he muttered, wearily;
gpt
Seen the sea-serpent, Myra, or the Flying Dutchman? What's up?
human
Oh, George--no, she answered in agitated tones.
gpt
John Rowland is here--Lieutenant Rowland. I've just seen him--he is so changed--he tried to speak to me.
human
Who--that troublesome flame of yours? I never met him, you know, and you haven't told me much about him. What is he--first cabin?
gpt
No, he seems to be a common sailor; he is working, and is dressed in old clothes--all dirty. And such a dissipated face, too. He seems to have fallen--so low. And it is all since--
human
Since you soured on him? Well, it is no fault of yours, dear. If a man has it in him he'll go to the dogs anyhow. How is his sense of injury? Has he a grievance or a grudge? You're badly upset. What did he say?
gpt
I don't know--he said nothing--I've always been afraid of him. I've met him three times since then, and he puts such a frightful look in his eyes--and he was so violent, and headstrong, and so terribly angry,--that time. He accused me of leading him on, and playing with him; and he said something about an immutable law of chance, and a governing balance of events--that I couldn't understand, only where he said that for all the suffering we inflict on others, we receive an equal amount ourselves. Then he went away--in such a passion. I've imagined ever since that he would take some revenge--he might steal our Myra--our baby. She strained the smiling child to her breast and went on.
human
I liked him at first, until I found out that he was an atheist--why, George, he actually denied the existence of God--and to me, a professing Christian.
gpt
He had a wonderful nerve, said the husband, with a smile;
human
He never seemed the same to me after that, she resumed;
gpt
I felt as though in the presence of something unclean. Yet I thought how glorious it would be if I could save him to God, and tried to convince him of the loving care of Jesus; but he only ridiculed all I hold sacred, and said, that much as he valued my good opinion, he would not be a hypocrite to gain it, and that he would be honest with himself and others, and express his honest unbelief--the idea; as though one could be honest without God's help--and then, one day, I smelled liquor on his breath--he always smelled of tobacco--and I gave him up. It was then that he--that he broke out.
human
Come out and show me this reprobate, said the husband, rising. They went to the door and the young woman peered out.
gpt
He is the last man down there--close to the cabin,
human
What! that hang-dog ruffian, scouring the ventilator? So, that's Rowland, of the navy, is it! Well, this is a tumble. Wasn't he broken for conduct unbecoming an officer? Got roaring drunk at the President's levee, didn't he? I think I read of it.
gpt
I know he lost his position and was terribly disgraced,
human
Well, Myra, the poor devil is harmless now. We'll be across in a few days, and you needn't meet him on this broad deck. If he hasn't lost all sensibility, he's as embarrassed as you. Better stay in now--it's getting foggy.