This time the idea that had been forcing itself into her mind took possession.  For a moment all her strength forsook her; she held to the post of the gate, looking after him as he disappeared up the narrow passage between the paling and the house, and then, hurrying onward, she found that it was only by the greatest effort she could walk with outward composure.

CHAPTER IV.

Susannah found her rooms as she had left them.  Emma was not there to bid her good-bye, nor did any messenger wait with the money.  She set her parcels ready for the driver to lift and waited until after the hour, but the chaise did not come.

At last she went down again to the livery stable, hoping, as against vague but almost overpowering fears, that mere delay was the cause.  The man told her that he understood that she had countermanded her order.  She gave the order again, but now he said that he could not go for the price named, and when she offered a larger sum, he assured her that his horses were all out.  She knew now that her order had indeed been countermanded, and by an authority higher than hers.  She went back and boldly entered the prophet’s public office.

There were five men in the office.  Joseph Smith sat in an elbow-chair before a central table.  His secretary, a middle-aged man, sat at a small table beside him.  Two of the leaders of the Church happened to be waiting upon some business, and a fresh convert was standing with them, a well-dressed English artisan but newly arrived.  Susannah walked up to the table and addressed Smith.

“Will you go down to the stable and bring me up a travelling-chaise?”

Smith rose with mechanical politeness, or perhaps with a feint of politeness.  “My dear madam,” he expostulated, “I must say—­”

“I am sorry,” she replied, “that I have not time to hear what you would like to say.  I must ask you to be quick and get me the chaise.”

By this time she perceived that his companions were looking at her with ill-concealed curiosity and excitement, which proved to her that she was a marked woman.  Her bosom dilated with a wilder anger as she looked at Smith expectantly; he returned the gaze sheepishly, as if dazzled by the audacity of her command.  His face after last night’s passion had an exhausted look like that of a man recovering from an illness.

“You also owe me money,” she proclaimed clearly.  “Your wife borrowed all that I had of the money I earned by my school.  When you have brought the chaise you can give me the money.”

One of the elders, a sleek man, thinking the prophet at a loss, now made a wily comment.  “Has Sister Halsey paid anything for living in the House this month back?”

At the insinuation that her money might be justly kept in payment of this debt if she spurned the Church’s hospitality, Susannah’s heart sank.  She admitted its justice.  It was part of her character to admit all possible claim against her.