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Show CHAPTER X AN URGENT INVITATION Mv quick return to the Tabernacle enabled me to seek out Chilcott and Brigham at the close of the serv1ce and g1ve them my version of our hasty departure. Wilen others came sullmg up to report our ~rreverent conduct they found the Prophet commendmg me for my cons1derahon of one who had suffered so much to reach Zion. Chilcott not only forgave me for borrowing his carriage without leave, but volunteered to call on the Senbys and take the ladies out driving whenever they des1red. Th1s was more than I had bargained for. He called the next day, and again a week later. Much to my rehef, Mrs. Senby managed to decline his attentions both times, on the plea that Lucy was almost prostrated from the reaction that had followed the str~in of her terrible privations. The dear g1rl was m truth s1ck in soul if not in body. For a time we feared that her mlnd would g1ve way under the shock of the discovery that the Prophet was not the holy man of God that she had pictured in her heart. Yet faith such as hers is hard to crush. She still clung blindly to her religion, though so greatly repulsed and bewildered by that fearful harangue of the President of the Church During the month that followed I called frequ~ntly and she always welcomed me with affectionate delight. I made no attempts, however, to press my sm t, . or even t? express. my feelings, for at any allu~wn to marnage her hm1d reserve heightened to a pamful degree. Her ma1denly sensibility had been 96 THE MORMON LION 97 so deeply wounded that she shrank from the very thought of love. Before the end of the year the city was in a gay whirl of balls and concerts and other social entertainments. Invitations were showered upon Lucy and myself and upon the Senbys because of Lucy. All were declined by myself as well as by Lucy on the excuse of ill health. But we dared not venture to stay away from the Tabernacle. Each Sunday, morning and afternoon, we had to endure the terrible exhortations of the Church Leaders and, what was still more fearful listen while hundreds of men and women laid bar~ before the congregation the details of their most secret sins and transgressions. Meantime I was prospering in my profession in a manner that would have seemed marvellous to me had I not already become aware of the absolute despotism exercised by Brigham over all Deseret. His favour was as propitious as his disfavour would have been fatal. Within the fi rst week I was enjoying as large a practice as I could have acquired in Gentile communities during a year's residence ; and this notwithstanding that the bulk of all disputes between brethren was settled by the Bishops or the higher Church authorities. My need to post myself on the Territorial laws and customs and the Mormon interpretation of the Federal laws served me as a second excuse for my avoidance of all social entertainments for over a month. During that time about half my evenings were spent at the Senbys' and the other half in the family circle of my host-or rather, I should say, in part of the family circle. Chilcott had taken unto h1mself a buxom new "spiritual" of fifteen the sister of Helga the Swede. He spent the greate;r.art of his lei~ure time in the separate apartments o the bnde unhl the end of the brief honeymoon that he condescended to devote to her. G |