Page:Porgy.djvu/106

 "Time an' time agin!"

"Ain't dis po' cripple done lif' up out de dus' by we prayeh?"

"Da's de trut', Jedus."

"Eben so, lif' up he woman, an' mek she well, time an' time agin!"

"Time an' time ag'in! Allelujah!"

After the prayer the group scattered, each going silently away in the late dusk, until there remained only Porgy, who sat with bowed head, and Maria, massive and inscrutable, beside him.

When the last retreating footstep died away, the great negress bent her turbaned head over until it almost touched Porgy's face.

"Listen tuh me," she whispered. "Yuh wants dat 'oman cure up; ain't yuh?"

"Yuh knows I does." And, already suffering from the reaction from religious enthusiasm, his voice was flat and hopeless.

"Berry well den. De ribber boat leabe fum de wharf at sebben o'clock, tuhmorruh mo'nin'. Yuh knows dat deck-han' by de name Mingo?"

Porgy nodded assent, his eyes intent upon her face.

"Well; git on de wharf early, an' gib um two dollar. Tell um w'en de boat done git tuh Ediwander Islan' at eight tuhmorruh