the light. 'Come, stand up and look closer, my girl,'
he commanded.
She obeyed and stood gazing into his face which to
her seemed a thing enveloped by glory, so that she
thought: 'In the image of God — ah, but yes, in the
image of God created/ Aloud she said: 'What are
the years to love? Love is stronger than time, stronger
even than death.9 Which some may think showed
that she was indeed youthful. Then she laid both her
hands on his broad, neat shoulders: 'I have tried to
explain very often/ she told him; CI have tried to
explain by making small cakes in the shape of a heart.
Do you not remember?' And even as she spoke she
was greatly amazed at her own unexpected courage
and calmness.
cls it possible. . . .?* he murmured. *Is it possible,
Elise, that those small heart-shaped cakes were
intended for me?9 And his voice sounded hushed and
almost awed, yes, almost awed because of those cakes
— or was it because of what they had stood for?
After this neither spoke for quite a long while.
Goundran was once again holding her hand, but now
he was lifting the fingers one by one absent-mindedly,
scarcely seeing her hand or her any more, so hard
was he thinking.
Then: 'Goundran, will you marry me?5 said Elise.
He looked up and caught her abruptly in his arms:
'Elise, will you marry me, dear?9 said Goundran.
§3
They were joined together very quietly and simply,
for Goundran had wanted a simple wedding, and
besides, there was always the death of Mathilde.
Only Marie and Jouse and Christophe were present
in addition to Jan — now a server at Mass — and of
course the indispensable Cure.
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