CHAPTER iv

WHEN Marie was once more up and about, which
was not until nearly three weeks later, Jouse
walked slowly to his sister's house; he was feeling
awkward and embarrassed. Two tasks were confronting
him on this occasion — the one pleasant, the other
humiliating: he was going to carry his little son home,
but before doing so he must apologize to Germaine
for his own inexcusable temper.
He had had to leave Christophe with Madame
Roustan much longer than he and his wife had
intended, and this because Marie had been very ill
Only with considerable difficulty had they saved her
life and that of the baby, So determined had this
second child seemed to be to return to that haven
from which they had called him, that the Cure had
been sent for during the night in order that the small
and complaining soul might display the badge of a
Christian to Saint Peter — a hasty and melancholy
baptism indeed, neither patronized by friends nor
followed by feasting.
Madame Roustan was in her sitting-room when
Jouse arrived looking rather sheepish, These two
had not met since their noisy quarrel, all communi-
cations having been written with great brevity and
exchanged through Anfos.
ŁAh,3 Madame Roustan snapped, cso it is you!3
which did not strike Jouse as a hopeful beginning,
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