Pearl
You know she couldn’t—— [They go out doorway at left.]
[Granny stands staring down at the child in her arms for some time. She then goes over to the bed and lays the child upon it, bending over it and striving to see. At last she turns, goes swiftly over to the red-covered chest and taking from its top the two charred sticks, turns, lights them at the fireplace, comes forward to the middle of the room and holding the flaming faggots before her face peers steadily at them.]
Granny
[Suddenly in a loud voice with upraised face.] Sam—ask Gawd tuh give back my sight dis night er all nights an’ leave me look at de noo man w’ut bin handed down ter us. Fer we kep’ de blood puore. Ask an’ we shill receive— [In a still louder tone, stretching upward her hands.] Lawd, I believe.
[She suddenly sways, turns, drops the sticks on the hearth, puts her hands before her eyes and staggers forward. After a moment she takes her hands from her face and looks tremblingly about.]
Yes—he give hit back—I sees—Oh, my black babe!
[She moves swiftly to the bed and bends over the child. There is a moment’s pause.]
W’ut dis? Cain’ I see yit? De wrong coloh.
[She turns swiftly, seizes a white cloth from a chair and a black one from another, holds them up and looks at them alternately.]