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next room。'
I followed him； like a person in a dream； he made me sit by
the fire； he gave me wine to drink； and then； pacing the
stone floor； he thus began to address me …
'You are now； my child； alone in the world； and under the
immediate watch of Brigham Young。 It would be your lot； in
ordinary circumstances； to become the fiftieth bride of some
ignoble elder； or by particular fortune； as fortune is
counted in this land； to find favour in the eyes of the
President himself。 Such a fate for a girl like you were
worse than death； better to die as your mother died than to
sink daily deeper in the mire of this pit of woman's
degradation。 But is escape conceivable？ Your father tried；
and you beheld yourself with what security his jailers acted；
and how a dumb drawing on a rock was counted a sufficient
sentry over the avenues of freedom。 Where your father
failed； will you be wiser or more fortunate？ or are you； too；
helpless in the toils？'
I had followed his words with changing emotion； but now I
believed I understood。
'I see；' I cried； 'you judge me rightly。 I must follow where
my parents led； and oh！ I am not only willing； I am eager！'
'No；' replied the doctor； 'not death for you。 The flawed
vessel we may break； but not the perfect。 No； your mother
cherished a different hope； and so do I。 I see；' he cried；
'the girl develop to the completed woman； the plan reach
fulfilment； the promise … ay； outdone！ I could not bear to
arrest so lively； so comely a process。 It was your mother's
thought；' he added； with a change of tone； 'that I should
marry you myself。' I fear I must have shown a perfect horror
of aversion from this fate； for he made haste to quiet me。
'Reassure yourself； Asenath；' he resumed。 'Old as I am； I
have not forgotten the tumultuous fancies of youth。 I have
passed my days； indeed； in laboratories； but in all my vigils
I have not forgotten the tune of a young pulse。 Age asks
with timidity to be spared intolerable pain； youth； taking
fortune by the beard； demands joy like a right。 These things
I have not forgotten； none； rather； has more keenly felt；
none more jealously considered them； I have but postponed
them to their day。 See； then： you stand without support；
the only friend left to you； this old investigator； old in
cunning； young in sympathy。 Answer me but one question： Are
you free from the entanglement of what the world calls love？
Do you still command your heart and purposes？ or are you
fallen in some bond…slavery of the eye and ear？'
I answered him in broken words； my heart； I think I must have
told him； lay with my dead parents。
'It is enough；' he said。 'It has been my fate to be called
on often； too often； for those services of which we spoke to…
night； none in Utah could carry them so well to a conclusion；
hence there has fallen into my hands a certain share of
influence which I now lay at your service； partly for the
sake of my dead friends； your parents； partly for the
interest I bear you in your own right。 I shall send you to
England； to the great city of London； there to await the
bridegroom I have selected。 He shall be a son of mine； a
young man suitable in age and not grossly deficient in that
quality of beauty that your years demand。 Since your heart
is free； you may well pledge me the sole promise that I ask
in return for much expense and still more danger： to await
the arrival of that bridegroom with the delicacy of a wife。'
I sat awhile stunned。 The doctor's marriages； I remembered
to have heard； had been unfruitful； and this added perplexity
to my distress。 But I was alone； as he had said； alone in
that dark land； the thought of escape； of any equal marriage；
was already enough to revive in me some dawn of hope； and in
what words I know not； I accepted the proposal。
He seemed more moved by my consent than I could reasonably
have looked for。 'You shall see；' he cried； 'you shall judge
for yourself。' And hurrying to the next room he returned
with a small portrait somewhat coarsely done in oils。 It
showed a man in the dress of nearly forty years before； young
indeed； but still recognisable to be the doctor。 'Do you
like it？' he asked。 'That is myself when I was young。 My …
my boy will be like that； like but nobler； with such health
as angels might condescend to envy； and a man of mind；
Asenath； of commanding mind。 That should be a man； I think；
that should be one among ten thousand。 A man like that … one
to combine the passions of youth with the restraint； the
force； the dignity of age … one to fill all the parts and
faculties； one to be man's epitome … say； will that not
satisfy the needs of an ambitious girl？ Say； is not that
enough？' And as he held the picture close before my eyes；
his hands shook。
I told him briefly I would ask no better； for I was
transpierced with this display of fatherly emotion； but even
as I said the words； the most insolent revolt surged through
my arteries。 I held him in horror； him； his portrait； and
his son； and had there been any choice but death or a Mormon
marriage； I declare before Heaven I had embraced it。
'It is well；' he replied； 'and I had rightly counted on your
spirit。 Eat； then； for you have far to go。' So saying； he
set meat before me； and while I was endeavouring to obey； he
left the room and returned with an armful of coarse raiment。
'There；' said he； 'is your disguise。 I leave you to your
toilet。'
The clothes had probably belonged to a somewhat lubberly boy
of fifteen； and they hung about me like a sack； and cruelly
hampered my movements。 But what filled me with
uncontrollable shudderings； was the problem of their origin
and the fate of the lad to whom they had belonged。 I had
scarcely effected the exchange when the doctor returned；
opened a back window； helped me out into the narrow space
between the house and the overhanging bluffs； and showed me a
ladder of iron footholds mortised in the rock。 'Mount；' he
said； 'swiftly。 When you are at the summit； walk； so far as
you are able； in the shadow of the smoke。 The smoke will
bring you； sooner or later； to a canyon； follow that down；
and you will find a man with two horses。 Him you will
implicitly obey。 And remember； silence！ That machinery；
which I now put in motion for your service； may by one word
be turned against you。 Go； Heaven prosper you！'
The ascent was easy。 Arrived at the top of the cliff； I saw
before me on the other side a vast and gradual declivity of
stone； lying bare to the moon and the surrounding mountains。
Nowhere was any vantage or concealment； and knowing how these
deserts were beset with spies； I made haste to veil my
movements under the blowing trail of smoke。 Sometimes it
swam high； rising on the night wind； and I had no more
substantial curtain than its moon…thrown shadow； sometimes
again it crawled upon the earth； and I would walk in it； no
higher than to my shoulders； like some mountain fog。 But；
one way or another； the smoke of that ill…omened furnace
protected the first steps