said Goundran, looking important yet sheepish, 'you
see how it is: when a woman is married she needs
many things that a girl does not need — many little
new comforts about the home. I would wish to provide
my wife with these comforts. And then I would like
the whole place to look gayer. I had thought a nice
pink both inside and out; the walls are all terribly
stained and dirty. And the paint of the shutters
ought to be green, a bright, cheerful green like the
vines in spring.5
J6usŁ nodded: That can surely be done/ he told
him.
'Very well, then, I want you to come down at once
and consult with Elise regarding the colours. There
is also the question of cupboards and so on. There
are also the doors that the wind has jarred, and the rats
have devoured the boards in our bedroom, and Elise
says we need a new water butt. Ah, yes, there are
many small things that we need — but I myself will
help with the paintwork as the weather is too rough
to go to sea.'
'It is also too dusty to paint/ warned J6us6.
But his client was firm, they must start at once, for
Goundran was childishly fond of painting.
Meanwhile Christophe, who was planing a very dull
plank, looked up from his work with envious interest,
and seeing this Goundran evolved an idea: 'Why
should not Christophe assist?5 he asked Jouse. 'He is
just going to start the Christmas vacation and the.
devil finds work for all idle hands. Is that not so,
my hefty godson? Well, what do you say, shall we
colour the walls like pink roses in honour of my little
Elise? Shall we paint all the woodwork green like
the vines? Shall we, in fact, make the house very clean
and ourselves very dirty? Allons, what do you say?5
'I say yes —but a million times yes!5 exclaimed
Christophe.
175