"I—I must have made a mistake—but yet—we were both so sure; strange! It's beyond me!"
Then Venna told him about the young preachers' gift of healing.
"Pooh! Nonsense!" exclaimed Dr. Jensen. "Don't let yourself believe such nonsense! Well, I must hurry off to the Board of Health and confess that we made our first mistake. It couldn't have been paralysis!"
So Dr. Jensen reported his error to the authorities, but Anna and Venna thanked God for the miracle.
When Mr. Halloway returned he was told the wonderful story. But, contrary to their expectations, he was not at all sceptical.
"I saw her this morning and I see her tonight," he said, very much impressed. "That is what I call proof!"
Anna and Venna asked the young preachers to prolong their stay.
"Both of us—and Mr. Halloway also, want to understand your beliefs thoroughly."
So the young missionaries consented to stay until they had given their message to its fullest extent.
When Bud spread the story of baby Anna's miraculous recovery, sentiment swayed like a pendulum, and the prejudice, temporarily overcome by sympathy, now asserted itself with greater force. Mr. Allworth was seen talking to groups of his parishioners and always gravely shaking his head.