第8部分(第2/7 頁)

in　for　fear　that　one　of　the　saints　might　be　passing　and；seeing　him；　might　cry　out　his　name　and　lay　hands　on　him　to　drag　him　back。　He　walked　veryquickly　across　the　carpeted　lobby；　looking　at　nothing；　and　pausing　only　to　see　his　ticket　torn；　halfof　it　thrown　into　a　silver　box　and　half　returned　to　him。　And　then　the　usherette　opened　the　doors　ofthis　dark　palace　and　with　a　flashlight　held　behind　her　took　him　to　his　seat。　Not　even　then；　havingpushed　past　a　wilderness　of　knees　and　feet　to　reach　his　designated　seat；　did　he　dare　to　breathe；　nor；out　of　a　last；　sick　hope　for　forgiveness；　did　he　look　at　the　screen。　He　stared　at　the　darkness　aroundhim；　and　at　the　profiles　that　gradually　emerged　from　this　gloom；　was　so　like　the　gloom　of　Hell。　Hewaited　for　this　darkness　to　be　shattered　by　the　light　of　the　second　ing；　for　the　ceiling　to　crackupward；　revealing；　for　every　eye　to　see；　the　chariots　of　fire　on　which　descended　a　wrathful　God　and　all　the　host　of　Heaven。　He　sank　far　down

Part　2　The　Prayer　Of　The　Saints

THE　PRAYER　OF　THE　SAINTSAnd　they　cried　with　a　loud　voice；saying；　How　long；　O　Lord；　holy　and　true；dost　thou　not　judge　and　avengeour　blood　on　them　that　dwell　on　the　earth1　FLORENCE’S　PRAYERLight　and　life　to　all　He　brings；Risen　with　healing　in　His　wings！

Florence　raised　her　voice　in　the　only　song　she　could　remember　that　her　mother　used　to　sing：

‘It’s　me；　it’s　me；　it’s　me；　oh；　Lord；　Standing　in　the　need　of　prayer。’

Gabriel　turned　to　stare　at　her；　in　astonished　triumph　that　his　sister　should　at　last　behumbled。　She　did　not　look　at　him。　Her　thoughts　were　all　on　God。　After　a　moment；　the　congregationand　the　piano　joined　her：

‘Not　my　father；　not　my　motherBut　it’s　me；　oh；　Lord。’

She　knew　that　Gabriel　rejoiced；　not　that　her　humility　might　lea