“I need not think of it.  Surely you know my love.  You know I could not do that.  Indeed I have heard at last that this doctrine so long gossiped of is a true one.  But I have been away and am not yet learned in its mysteries.  But this much I do know—­and it is the very corner-stone of my life:  Peter, James, and John ordained Joseph Smith here on this earth, and Joseph ordained the twelve.  All other churches have been established by the wisdom or folly of man.  Ours is the only one on earth established by direct revelation from God.  It has a priesthood, and that priesthood is a power we must reverence and obey, no matter what may be its commands.  When the truth is taught me of this doctrine you speak of, I shall see it to be right for those to whom it is ordained.  And meantime, outside of my own little life—­my love for you, which would be always single—­I can’t measure the revealed will of God with my little moral foot-rule.  Joseph was endowed with the open vision.  He saw God face to face and heard His voice.  Can the standards of society in its present corruption measure and pass upon the revelations of so white-souled a man?”

“I believe he was not white-souled,” she replied, in a kind, animated way, as one who was bent upon saving him from error.  “I told you I knew why you were sent away on mission.  It was because you were my accepted lover—­and your white-souled Joseph Smith wanted me for himself.”

“I can’t believe it—­you couldn’t know such a thing”—­his faith made a brave rally—­“but even so, if he sought you, why, the more honour to you—­and to me, if you still clung to me.”

“Listen.  I was afraid to tell you before—­ashamed—­but I told my people.  It’s three years ago.  I was seventeen.  It was just after we had become engaged.  My people were then strong in the faith, as you know.  One morning after you had left for the East, Brigham Young and Heber Kimball came to our house for me.  They said the Prophet had long known me by sight, and wished to talk with me.  Would I go with them to visit him and he would bless and counsel me?  Of course I was flattered.  I put on my prettiest frock and fetchingest bonnet and set off with them, after mamma had said yes.  On the way they kept asking me if I was willing to do all the Prophet required.  I said I was sure of it, thinking they meant to be good and worshipful.  Then they would ask if I was ready to take counsel, and they said, ’Many things are revealed unto us in these last days that the world would scoff at,’ but that it had been given to them to know all the mysteries of the Kingdom.  Then they said, ’You will see Joseph and he will tell you what you are to do.’”

He was listening with a serious, confident eagerness, as if he knew she could say nothing to dim the Prophet’s lustre.