"I would not have him enter my door!" returned Mrs. Hansom.
"You wouldn't, then, consider the other side?" asked Venna.
"Not in the case of the Mormons."
Venna did not answer for a moment. Her eyes wandered again to her father's picture.
"Father would have listened," she said softly.
Her aunt colored.
"Yes, I believe dear John would listen to anyone. He was too soft-hearted for this world. Yes, and in those days I would have, too, I suppose. But Dr. Hansom has taught me that compromise kills. I am much stronger for his great influence," she added with pride.
Venna looked at her aunt with a great pity. How she had changed. She seemed to reflect her husband's character as far as her weak nature would permit.
"Auntie, if you refuse to hear the defense how can you judge?"
"It isn't always well to listen to Satan's defense—it often blurs your conceptions—those are Dr. Hansom's exact words. I've heard him give them more than once."