'Come, Loup,5 said Marie in a still, small voice
that should surely have reminded him of his con-
science, ecome to mother and let her undress you at
once.5
'And for God's sake stop touching that collar;'
groaned Jouse.
But le tout petit Loup merely turned his thin back
on them all: To-day I am going to Communion.'
The daring, the incredible daring of the imp,
defying his parents, defying the Cure — a mosquito,
a gnat, a midge of a child, and dressed in a suit that
was sizes too large so that everyone who saw him must
laugh, yet declaring that he would go to Communion.
And what did he think the Cure would do when he
saw such a figure approaching the altar! Well, but
what could he do? Make a scene in the church? Oh,
the imp of Satan, the midge, the mosquito! Jouse
tugged at his beard and ruffled his hair; box Loup's
ears? but no, a finger would break him. Then what?
Compromise by offering a bribe — some sweets, or
that little toy boat from the bazaar? Malavalisco,
a nice situation! Then a gleam of hope shot into
Jouse5 s eyes — perhaps he would take off the clothes
for Christophe.
'Christophe,5 he whispered, looking rather shame-
faced, 'Christophe, ask him to take them off for your
sake —but speak gently, for one never knows what
he may do ... remember we have only got one
collar It-ton.5
The tactlessness of men, the obtuseness of men,
the blundering imbecility of them. Marie realized
just a moment too late that Christophe was going to
appeal to his brother —was appealing:
'Loup, I very much want my new clothes, please
take them off ... they are my clothes for Com-
munion.5
It was done; the match was set to the fuse and the
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