第16部分(第6/7 頁)

‘Yes；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　gravely；　‘it’s　more　than　a　notion。　The　Devil　rises　on　everyhand。’

Then；　in　silence；　they　came　to　the　wide　crossing　where　the　tramline　ran。　A　lean　cat　stalkedthe　gutter　and　fled　as　they　approached；　turned　to　watch　them；　with　yellow；　malevolent　eyes；　fromthe　ambush　of　a　dustbin。　A　gray　bird　flew　above　them；　above　the　electric　wires　for　the　tram　line；and　perched　on　the　metal　cornice　of　a　roof。　Then；　far　down　the　avenue；　they　heard　a　siren；　and　the　clanging　of　a　bell；　and　looked　up　to　see　the　ambulance　speed　past　them　on　the　way　to　the　hospitalthat　was　near　the　church。

‘Another　soul　struck　down；’　murmured　Sister　McCandless。　‘Lord　have　mercy。’

‘He　said　in　the　last　days　evil　would　abound；’　said　Sister　Price。

‘Well；　yes；　He　did　say　it；’　said　Praying　Mother　Washington；　‘and　I’m　so　glad　He　told　us　Hewouldn’t　leave　us　fortless。’

‘’When　ye　see　all　these　things；　know　that　your　salvation　is　at　hand；’　said　SisterMcCandless。　‘A　thousand　shall　fall　at　thy　side；　and　ten　thousand　at　thy　right　hand—but　it　ain’tgoing　to　e　nigh　thee。　So　glad；　amen；　this　morning；　bless　my　Redeemer。’

‘You　remember　that　day　when　you　e　into　the　store？’

‘I　didn’t　think　you　never　looked　at　me。’

‘Well—you　was　mighty　pretty。’

‘Didn’t　little　Johnny　never　say　nothing；’　asked　Praying　Mother　Washington；　‘to　make　youthink　the　Lord　was　working　in　his　heart？’

‘He　always　kind　of　quiet；’　said　Elizabeth。　‘He　don’t　say　much。’

‘No；’　said　Sister　McCandless；　‘he　ain’t　like　all　these　rough　young　one　nowadays—he　gotsome　respect　for　his　elders。　You　done　raised　him　mighty　well；　Sister　Grimes。’

‘It　was　his　birthday　yesterday；’　Elizabeth　said。

‘No！’　cried　Sister　Price。　‘How　old　he　got　to　be　yesterday？’

‘