"You must know then, sir prophet," she said with a light air, "that I am Joan, from Siron; my father is a Nephite by birth, but when young met with my mother, taken captive during a war with your people. He fell in love with the captive, married her and she induced him to go with her to her people. They settled in Siron where they lived happily until my mother died. My father still lives, and has never been entirely rid of the traditions of the Nephites, and hearing that a party of Nephite prophets were preaching in Antionum, it was his wish that I should come to our kinsman Seantum, find you, and ask that you would also preach in Siron."
"But why did you come to me? I do not lead our party, I am youngest in it."
"Ah, sir prophet, you are more famous than you know. It was Corianton that we first heard of in Siron; it is he whose eloquence most baffles the Zoramites, and threatens the disruption of their church—believe me, sir, I was charged by my father to bid you come."
Oh, flattery! what man is proof against thy sweet, seducing charms! And how those charms are heightened, when flattery falls from beauty's lips! The vanity of Corianton was well pleased with the words of the woman; pride swelled his bosom, and he felt exalted above his brethren.
"For two days I have sought you" (Corianton had been absent two days from his lodgings), "now I have found you and delivered my message, will you go to Siron?"
"I cannot say, lady, I must first confer with my brethren, and if by them it is thought best, I—"
"What! are you not free to come and go where and when you like. Are you in bondage?"
"No, lady, not in bondage, yet it is mete I counsel with my associates, and if—"
"And 'if' they give you leave, why then you'll go! Ah me, that is such liberty as a maiden has under her father's control. I've often wished myself a man, that I might have a more extended liberty, but if men cannot act independent of control, it pleases me that I am a woman. I fear, Sir prophet, that I shall never be a convert to your faith."
"Then I would esteem my success in Siron of little value though I gained the whole people, if I failed to number one so fair among those who followed me."