the earth; you got to put your handin Jesus’ hand; and go where He says go。’
‘And if you been but a stumbling…stone here below?’ she said。 ‘If you done caused soulsright and left to stumble and fall; and lose their happiness; and lose their souls? What then;prophet? What then; the Lord’s anointed? Ain’t no reckoning going to be called of you? What yougoing to say when the wagon es?’
He lifted up his head; and she saw tears mingled with his sweat。 ‘The Lord;’ he said; ‘Hesees the heart—He sees the heart。’
‘Yes;’ she said; ‘but I done read the Bible; too; and it tells me you going to know the treeby its fruit。 What fruit I seen from you if it ain’t been just sin and sorrow and shame?’
‘You be careful;’ he said; ‘how you talk to the Lord’s anointed。 ’Cause my life ain’t in thatletter—you don’t know my life。’
‘Where is your life; Gabriel?’ she asked; after a despairing pause。 ‘Where is it? Ain’t it alldone gone for nothing? Where’s your branches? Where’s your fruit?’
He said nothing; insistently; she tapped the letter with her thumbnail。 They wereapproaching the corner where she must leave him; turning westward to take her undergroundhome。 In the light that filled the streets; the light that the sun was now beginning to corrupt withfire; she watched John and Elisha just before them; John’ listening head bent; Elisha’s arm abouthis shoulder。
‘I got a son;’ he said at last; ‘and the Lord’s going to rise him up。 I know—the Lord haspromised—His word is true。’
And then she laughed。 ‘That son;’ she said; ‘that Roy。 You going to weep for many aeternity before you see him crying in front of the altar like Johnny was crying to…night。’
‘God sees the heart;’ he repeated; ‘He sees the heart。’
‘Well; He ought to see