— and this done he whistled the soft double note
wherewith he had used to attract the wild birds
when he lived in that village high up in the mountains.
And he moved his carved bird about and about,
and made it pretend to be bowing to Christophe.
Then Christophe grabbed it and sucked its head, and
kicked his plump legs till his socks came off and he
finally fell back and sprawled in the shavings. After
this Anfos also sprawled on the floor, overcome for
the moment by his own childish instincts; and he made
little hillocks of golden sawdust so that Christophe
might slap at them with his hands and crow with
delight when the hillocks were scattered; and they
both uttered young, embryonic sounds — which appar-
ently both of them understood — until Anfos got once
more onto his knees and knelt gazing earnestly down
at Christophe.
Jouse said quietly: 'To live one must eat, and to
eat one must work.5 So Anfos stumbled up and
returned to the table leg he was making.
Christophe watched him out of pale blue-grey orbs
, which were so wide apart that they made Jouse laugh,
for they gave to the rounded, infantile face an absurdly
candid and wise expression. Christophe watched him,
but Anfos was intent on his job and was therefore no
longer of very great interest; of less interest indeed
than the sawdust and chips which, failing all else,
could at least be eaten.
"MarieP bawled J6us£, 'Marie, come quick! Our
child is no longer content with your milk and endea-
vours to nourish himself upon wood!5 Then Marie
came running in from the kitchen, wiping the soap
from her hands on her apron.
'Santo Ano d'At!' she exclaimed very loudly, for
she always invoked this saint when annoyed. 'Santo
Ano d'At! Are you also a child that you cannot keep
one small baby in order but must stand there grinning