her thumb, then laying the suit back again in the
drawer and covering it up with the new tissue paper.
May the second. Jouse and Marie disappearing
after many loud, conspiratorial whispers. They are
seen going into a shop near the port where a galaxy
of Prayer-Books is displayed in the window.
"This is not of real leather/ the salesman explains,
'mais Madame, croyez moi, it is even better — ob-
serve too the charming little cross on the binding —
and the clasp. There is also a very fine picture of
Saint Aloysius at the altar rails, Saint Aloysius
receiving Communion/ and he quickly exhibits that
youthful saint.
cYes, but what would real leather cost?5 Marie asks
him.
She is told, and Jouse shakes his head sadly: 'No/
he murmurs, ctoo much, too much, Marioun.5
*Ah, well/ consoles Marie, mustering a smile,
'as Monsieur here says, this Prayer-Book is charming
— and strong, Monsieur says — is that not so, Mon-
sieur? With a fine clasp and all — then think of the
picture!' For the poor are wonderfully patient at
times when it comes to foregoing some innocent
longing.
So the Prayer-Book that is not of real leather but
of something that Monsieur has said is even better,
is duly purchased and carried away. And that night
it is carefully inscribed by J6us6 — but upstairs in
the bedroom lest Christophe should see: CA notre
tres-cher fils Christophe, de la part de ses parents a
Poccasion de sa Premiere Communion/ writes Jouse,
protruding, as he does so, the tip of his tongue — the
small page is terribly awkward to write on.
May the third. Christophers suit is hung in the
air in case it should smell a little of camphor. Le
tout petit Loup still telling his beads, but put loud
instead of in a sibilant whisper. Anfos sweating right
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