woods the trees were creaking and cracking, and over the meadows hung
shifting veils of clouds and rain.

"I guess I'd better not take you farther than Sharon Peck's. Your folks
would be pretty mad if you walked through the village with Joe Smith."

The lines round Susannah's mouth strengthened themselves; she felt
herself superior to those whose attitude of mind he had thus described.

"You have been very kind to come with me. I'd like better to go home
than stop, if it isn't too far."

"I guess not. If you'd lived here longer you'd know that there was all
manner of evil said about me, and the worst of it is that some of it's
true. I've been a pretty low sort of fellow, and I hain't got any
education to speak of."

She looked up at him in astonishment; the expression of his face was
peaceful and kindly. "Then why do you go about preaching and saying--"

"I hain't got nothing to do with that at all. If an angel comes from
heaven and gives me a partic'lar revelation, calling me by name, namely,
'Joseph Smith, Junior,' tain't for me to say he's made a mistake and
come to the wrong man, though goodness knows I hev said it to the Lord
often enough; but now I've come to see that it's my business just to do
what I'm told. But as to the low ways I hed--why, I've repented and give
them up, and as to the education, I'm trying to get that, but it won't
come in a minute."

Her conscience was not at rest; to be silent was like telling a lie, and