She declared that Susannah had not been married except by some mystical Mormon ceremony which was void in law.
When Ephraim heard this circumstantial story, and with it many new tales concerning wicked mysteries practised by the Mormons in Fayette, he threw down his books, as long ago the fabled fruit that had turned to ashes was thrown down, and prepared for the road.
In the first day's journey he reached Geneva, and setting out again before it was light, he came to John Biery's hotel when the sun was rising red beyond the gray elm boughs on the morning on which Susannah breakfasted alone.
Susannah looked up from her breakfast and saw Ephraim standing beside her.

It was his way to look calm outwardly, but she could see that he was struggling with the nervous untoward beating of his heart, so that he could not speak.

Susannah did not understand why she could not immediately rise and speak.

She was conscious of a red flush that rose and mantled her face, but she did not understand the emotion from which it arose.

She only knew that she was glad to see Ephraim, more glad than she could have thought to be of anything upon a day when her heart had been set mocking.
"You have come at last," she whispered, and only knew when the words were said that she had hoped to see him before.