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Show 337 and laid them down. The mission president stared at the tape recorder during a long silence. Finally he said, "Those are the charges, Elder Hood. You've heard them read and had a chance to consider them. Let me ask you. Are they true?" Lorin cleared his throat. "Basically," he said. The mission president raised himself in his chair and frowned. "I'm not sure I understand, Elder. What do you mean by basically?" "I mean yes, I did do those things." "Well, but you seem to hesitate. Was there some ambiguity about what happened that you think might help your case or that we ought to know about?" "Not really." The mission president l i f t e d his hands. "All right, let me ask i t. Did you actually penetrate the g i r l ?" "Yes. Except for the last time." "Well, that seems simple enough, Elder Hood. That seems to me to constitute an act of adultery. I mean what is there to s p l i t hairs about? This is a l l we're asking. Are the charges as you heard them true?" "Yes," said Lorin. "Except for the last time." "Fine. That's a l l we're asking." " I ' d l i k e to ask a question," said one of the men to Lorin's l e f t. "Before you actually did t h i s , I mean the f i r s t time, did you feel any hesitation or reluctance, and afterward did you feel as though maybe you wished you hadn't done i t ?" "That's actually two questions, George," said the mission president. " I 'd l i ke Elder Hood to take the f i r s t one f i r s t , i f that's a l l right. Did you have any hesitation or reluctance about doing t h i s , Elder?" "Yes, I think I d e f i n i t e l y did." |