As Grant awaits the news of Jefferson's execution, he thinks about his own days as a student in the little country church where he is now the teacher. He remembers playing ragball with his friends and notes that most of them have moved away and many died at an early age. He also thinks about Jefferson, silently asks his forgiveness for not encouraging his faith, and chastises himself for not having the courage to witness the execution. Suddenly, his thoughts are interrupted by an unusual sight: A yellow butterfly alights briefly on a hill of bull grass, then flies off toward the quarter. As he watches the butterfly, he realizes that the execution is finally over. Consequently, when Paul arrives to deliver the news of Jefferson's death, he accepts it calmly. He also accepts Jefferson's diary and Paul's offer of friendship.
This chapter contains four highly symbolic scenes that provide a poignant commentary on the events surrounding Jefferson's execution. The first scene involves the image of the church sinking into the ground, despite repeated efforts to rebuild its foundation.
Note that this image is juxtaposed against the tragic image of wasted young lives and of Henri Pichot's house, "sitting on its foundation high above the ground."In effect, the church is literally losing ground because it lacks a firm foundation of faith. It has lost the ability to save the children of the community. Conversely, the Pichot mansion, built on a solid foundation of Southern culture and tradition, is able to withstand the elements.
