第14部分(第5/7 頁)

me。’

Then　they　were　in　a　straight　street；　a　narrow；　narrow　way。　They　had　been　walking　for　manydays。　The　street　stretched　before　them；　long；　and　silent；　going　down；　and　whiter　than　the　snow。

There　was　no　one　on　the　street；　and　John　was　frightened。　The　buildings　on　this　street；　so　near　thatJohn　could　touch　them　on　either　side；　were　narrow；　also；　rising　like　spears　into　the　sky；　and　theywere　made　of　beaten　gold　and　silver。　John　knew　that　these　buildings　were　not　for　him—not　to…day—no；　nor　to…morrow；　either！　Then；　ing　up　this　straight　and　silent　street；　he　saw　a　woman；　veryold　and　black；　ing　toward　them；　staggering　on　the　crooked　stones。　She　was　drunk；　and　dirty；and　very　old；　and　her　mouth　was　bigger　than　his　mother’s　mouth；　or　his　own；　her　mouth　was　looseand　wet；　and　he　had　never　seen　anyone　so　black。　His　father　was　astonished　to　see　her；　and　besidehimself　with　anger；　but　John　was　glad。　He　clapped　his　hands；　and　cried：

‘See！　She’s　uglier　than　Mama！　She’s　uglier　than　me！’

‘You　mighty　proud；　ain’t　you；’　his　father　said；　‘to　be　the　Devil’s　son？’

But　John　did　no　listen　to　his　father。　He　turned　to　watch　the　woman　pass。　His　father　grabbedhis　arm。

“You　see　that？　That’s　sin。　That’s　what　the　Devil’s　son　runs　after。’

‘Whose　son　are　you？’　John　asked。

His　father　slapped　him。　John　laughed；　and　moved　a　little　away。

‘I　seen　it。　I　seen　it。　I　ain’t　the　Devil’s　son　for　nothing。’

His　father　reached　for　him；　but　John　was　faster。　He　moved　backward　down　the　shiningstreet；　looking　at　his　father—his　father　who　moved　toward　him；　one　hand　outstretched　in　fury。

‘And　I　heard　you—all　the　night…time　long。　I　know　what　you　do　in　the　dark；　black　man；when　you　think　the　Devil’s　son’s　asleep。　I　heard　you；　spitting；　and　groaning；　and