Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered

228/260home and wait. That was all. When she reached home the visitors roseto go.When they were alone Tea Cake wanted to put his head in Janie’slap and tell her how he felt and let her mama him in her sweet way.But something Sop had told him made his tongue lie cold and heavylike a dead lizard between his jaws. Mrs. Turner’s brother was back onthe muck and now he had this mysterious sickness. People didn’t justtake sick like this for nothing.“Janie, whut is dat Turner woman’s brother doin’ back on demuck?”“Ah don’t know, Tea Cake. Didn’t even knowed he wuz back.”“Accordin’ tuh mah notion, you did. Whut you slip off from me justnow for?”“Tea Cake, Ah don’t lak you astin’ me no sich question. Dat showshow sick you is sho nuff. You’se jealous ’thout me givin’ you cause.”“Well, whut didja slip off from de house ’thout tellin’ me you wuzgoin’. You ain’t never done dat befo’.”“Dat wuz cause Ah wuz tryin’ not tuh let yuh worry ’bout yo’ condition.De doctah sent after some mo’ medicine and Ah went tuh see if itcome.”Tea Cake began to cry and Janie hovered him in her arms like achild. She sat on the side of the bed and sort of rocked him back topeace.