第32部分(第5/9 頁)

d　he

tasted　of　death。　Because　his　life　was　formed　in　these

unquestioned　concepts。

She；　desolate　again　as　she　had　been　when　she　was　a　child；

went　away　and　sobbed。　She　did　not　care；　she　did　not　care　whether

the　water　had　turned　to　wine　or　not。　Let　him　believe　it　if　he

wanted　to。　But　she　knew　she　had　won。　And　an　ashy　desolation　came

over　her。

They　were　ashenly　miserable　for　some　time。　Then　the　life

began　to　e　back。　He　was　nothing　if　not　dogged。　He　thought

again　of　the　chapter　of　St。　John。　There　was　a　great　biting　pang。

〃But　thou　hast　kept　the　good　wine　until　now。〃　〃The　best　wine！〃

The　young　man's　heart　responded　in　a　craving；　in　a　triumph；

although　the　knowledge　that　it　was　not　true　in　fact　bit　at　him

like　a　weasel　in　his　heart。　Which　was　stronger；　the　pain　of　the

denial；　or　the　desire　for　affirmation？　He　was　stubborn　in

spirit；　and　abode　by　his　desire。　But　he　would　not　any　more

affirm　the　miracles　as　true。

Very　well；　it　was　not　true；　the　water　had　not　turned　into

wine。　The　water　had　not　turned　into　wine。　But　for　all　that　he

would　live　in　his　soul　as　if　the　water　had　turned　into

wine。　For　truth　of　fact；　it　had　not。　But　for　his　soul；　it

had。

〃Whether　it　turned　into　wine　or　whether　it　didn't；〃　he　said；

〃it　doesn't　bother　me。　I　take　it　for　what　it　is。〃

〃And　what　is　it？〃　she　asked；　quickly；　hopefully。

〃I