found you a suitable husband. Indeed I have just the
right fellow in my mind — a captain he is, although
still quite young — he comes from Marseille and his
name is Bertrand. In any case I shall bring him along
so that you and your aunt may look him over. At
your wedding I, of course, will be the best man; and
if I am lucky and catch many fish I will surely provide
you with excellent wine. Ah, yes, it is time that we
thought of your wedding.5 For Goundran was a lover
and lord of the sea, and appeared to be little attracted
by women.
Elise allowed Christophe to stand up at last; then
she sighed as she looked at the heart-shaped cakes
which she had so skilfully fashioned that morning.
And Christophe was puzzled when he heard her deep
sigh, wondering if EUse were still feeling hungry, for
at times he was very much a child, quite untroubled
by flashes of understanding.
He said politely: "Will you eat another cake?3 and
he passed her the plate feeling suddenly hopeful.
Nor was he to be disappointed in his hope, for al-
though Elise shook her head rather sadly, she urged
him to finish the rest of the hearts, which he did to
the great amusement of Goundran.
'You will surely be terribly sick/ Goundran
warned him, 'but what matter? Elise's sweetmeats
are well worth it.5 Then he turned to the girl with his
innocent smile: 'You become a most excellent cook/
he told her.
Away in her corner the old Mathilde slept, and her
head now drooped limply onto her bosom: cLa
pauvre/ sighed Elise, 'she grows terribly old, that is
why she wept as she did over Christophe; her mind
wanders at times, it was doubtless that — or perhaps
she feels sad when a child is near, because she herself
never had any children.*
92