And indeed he did show a great aptitude for all
that pertained to his father's trade, an aptitude at
which he was surprised himself, for now that he had
come into personal touch with the tools and the
honest and patient wood, the tasks which he did
seemed strangely familiar, so that he could work
without undue effort, being filled with a very complete
self-assurance. And Jouse watching his robust little
son, would consider himself to be more than lucky, for
had he not already one excellent apprentice in poor
Anfos whom he had trained out of kindness? And now
here was his own fine flesh and blood bidding fair to
become a skilled carpenter who would carry on the
family tradition — for Jouse came of a long line of
men who had earned their bread through the bounty
of timber. Oh, yes, the good Jouse was well content
these days, and being content he felt pious, so that
he prayed a great deal at Mass and seldom missed
going to Benediction.
Christophe would be kneeling between his parents,
telling his beads with scarred clumsy fingers: cje
vous salue, O Marie pleine de grace, le Seigneur est
avec vous,' he would whisper, 'Vous etes benie entre
toutes les femmes, et Jesus le fruit de vos entrailles
est beni.' And sometimes there would suddenly come
to the child one of his flashes of understanding, so
that he would glimpse in those momentous words the
tragedy and grandeur of God's incarnation — at
such moments he would grope for his mother's hand
without knowing why he desired to hold it. And
presently — if it were Benediction — the triple bell
would ring out through the church while the Cure
raised the Host in its monstrance; then Marie must
glance rather nervously at Loup, always fearful lest
he should shuffle his feet or in some other way show a
lack of attention.
Just across the aisle from the Benedit's chairs, would
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