第17部分(第5/7 頁)

it；’　she　cried；　‘He　made　it！　But　don’t　nobody　else　se　it；　not　evenyour　own　self！　Let　God　see　it—He　sees　it　all　right；　and　He　don’t　say　nothing。’

‘He　speaks；’　he　said；　‘He　speaks。　All　you　got　to　do　is　listen。’

‘I　been　listening　many　a　night…time　long；’　said　Florence；　then；　‘and　He　ain’t　never　spoke　tome。’

‘He　ain’t　never　spoke；’　said　Gabriel；　‘because　you　ain’t　never　wanted　to　hear。　You　justwanted　Him　to　tell　you　your　way　was　right。　And　that　ain’t　no　way　to　wait　on　God。’

‘Then　tell　me；’　Said　Florence；　‘what　He　done　said　to　you—that　you　didn’t　want　to　hear？’

And　there　was　silence　again。　Now　they　both　watched　John　and　Elisha。

‘I　going　to　tell　you　something；　Gabriel；’　she　said。　‘I　know　you　thinking　at　the　bottom　ofyour　heart　that　if　you　make　her；　her　and　her　bastard　boy；　pay　enough　for　her　sin；　your　son　won’thave　to　pay　for　yours。　But　I　ain’t　going　to　let　you　do　that。　You　done　made　enough　folks　pay　for　sin；it’s　time　you　started　paying。’

‘What　you　think；’　he　asked；　‘you　going　to　be　able　to　do—against　me？’

‘Maybe；’　she　said；　‘I　ain’t　long　for　this　world；　but　I　got　this　letter；　and　I’m　sure　going　togive　it　to　Elizabeth　before　I　go；　and　if　she　don’t　want　it；　I’m　going　to　find　some　way—some　way；　Idon’t　know　how—to　rise　up　and　tell　it；　tell　everybody；　about　the　blood　the　Lord’s　anointed　id　goton　his　hands。’

‘I　done　told　you；’　he　said；　‘that’s　all　done　and　finished；　the　Lord　done　give　me　a　sign　tomake　me　know　I　been　forgiven。　What　good　you　think　it’s　going　to　do　to　start　talking　about　itnow？’

‘It’ll　make　Elizabeth　to　know；’　she　said；　‘that　she　ain’t　the　only　sinner　…　in　your　holyhouse。　And　little　Johnny；　there—he’ll　know　he　ain’t　the　only　bastard。’

Then　he　turned　again；　and　looked　at　her　with　hatred　in　hi