Venna looked from one to the other, intently listening.
Her aunt flushed with mild annoyance. Surely John was spoiling Dr. Hansom's influence over Venna.
Hastings leaned back in his chair with an air of boredom.
"How all the sects do enjoy biting and snapping at any new thing in their midst. Why doesn't each one live and let live?" he asked quietly.
"You don't mean you wish to defend the Mormons?" Dr. Hansom asked impatiently.
"Defend? No, neither do I mean to criticize. We in the East know very little about them, except what paid lecturers tell us, and that is rather 'commercialized truth,' don't you think?"
"Is it not an established fact that women influenced by Mormon missionaries have gone to Utah to their destruction?" persisted Dr. Hansom.
"Haven't the slightest doubt of it," was Hastings' smiling answer. "Also, it is an established fact that women have fallen in love with some Orthodox ministers and even Catholic priests, and followed them to their destruction. That doesn't denounce the Church politic, does it? There are black sheep in every fold."
Dr. Hansom frowned. He hated contradiction.
"I tell you, Hastings, the Mormons are outside of any fold—they are a menace that every Christian should strive to wipe off the map of this country!"