He might have learned that when the book was thus translated, the angel Moroni had reclaimed the golden plates and the Urim and Thummim, leaving the sacred deposit of doctrine to be given to the world by Joseph Smith; that the Saviour had subsequently appeared to Joseph; also Peter, James, and John, who laid hands upon him, ordained him, gave him the Holy Ghost, authorised him to baptise for the remission of sins, and to organise the Kingdom of God on earth.

“Do you understand so far?” she asked.

“It’s fine!” he answered, fervently.  “I feel kind of a glow coming over me already.”

She looked at him closely, with a quick suspicion, but found his profile uninforming; at least of anything needful at the moment.

“Remember you must have faith,” she admonished him, “if you are to win your inheritance; and not question or doubt or find fault, or—­or make fun of anything.  It says right here on the title-page, ’And now if there be faults, it be the mistake of men; wherefore condemn not the things of God that ye may be found spotless at the judgment seat of Christ.’  There now, remember!”

“Who’s finding fault or making fun?” he asked, in tones that seemed to be pained.

“Now I think I’d better read you some verses.  I don’t know just where to begin.”

“Something about that Urim and Thingamajig,” he suggested.

“Urim and Thummim,” she corrected—­“now listen.”

Again, had the Gentile remained attentive, he might have learned how the Western Hemisphere was first peopled by the family of one Jared, who, after the confusion of tongues at Babel, set out for the new land; how they grew and multiplied, but waxed sinful, and finally exterminated one another in fierce battles, in one of which two million men were slain.

At this the fallen one sat up.

“’And it came to pass that when they had all fallen by the sword, save it were Coriantumr and Shiz, behold Shiz had fainted with loss of blood.  And it came to pass when Coriantumr had leaned upon his sword and rested a little, he smote off the head of Shiz.  And it came to pass, after he had smote off the head of Shiz, that Shiz raised up on his hands and fell; and after he had struggled for breath he died.’”

The Gentile was animated now.

“Say, that Shiz was all right,—­raised up on his hands and struggled for breath after his head was cut off!”

Hereupon she perceived that his interest was become purely carnal.  So she refused to read of any more battles, though he urged her warmly to do it.  She returned to the expedition of Jared, while the lost sheep fell resignedly on his back again.