the fine, friendly wine" . . . Yes, surely it is better
to be like me. Life was simpler far when the world
was pagan/
'But then I am not a pagan/ sighed Christophe.
§2
Sometimes Christophe would seek out the studious
Jan who, when he was not on his knees in the church,
was engrossed by the books that the Cure had lent
him. And Jan would motion his cousin to a chair:
'Do not go — I like to feel that you are near me,'
Which was true, for despite his prayers and his books
he still felt a very deep love for Christophe, as did
Christophe for him —that tenacious love which
had shown itself first when they two had been infants.
Christophe would gaze at Jan's dark, bowed head,
at his slender figure and handsome profile, and would
wonder how Jan could tolerate him, such a slow-
witted, stupid and clumsy fellow. He would almost
decide not to have his hair cropped, but to wear it
as Jan wore his, with a parting — it was ugly cropped
so close to the scalp. But then he would remember
that his hair was red and quite straight, not a curly
red-gold like his father's.
Presently Jan might lay down his book, yawn and
stretch: 'That is quite enough for this evening!
Let us go out, it is hot in this room.* So out they
must go arm in arm as usual.
Christophe would listen while Jan discussed life
with the very complete assurance of childhood. But
now when he spoke about his religion his eyes burned
as they did when they looked on the Host — all on
fire, he was, at the thought of Communion:
'Surely I could kill the people who blaspheme
against our Lord's name, who despitefully use
Him!' Yes, now more than ever must his Lord be
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