§3
The Mass was over. They made their way to the
Creche, Marie holding Loup by the hand, Jouse
following with Anfos and Christophe,
'Hurry, hurry!5 hissed Anfos in Christophe's ear.
He was greatly excited because of a lamb that Jouse
had allowed him to carve for the Cure.
The Creche had a corner all to itself, and around
it was gathered a crowd of the faithful. Some were
selfishly trying to tell their beads while others must
wait, craning over their shoulders. The rocks of the
cavern that had served as a stable, were of cardboard
covered with painted paper. The Christ was of wax,
with a waxen smile; Mary and Joseph were made
of plaster as were also the three wise kings from
the East, the shepherds, the sheep, the ox and the ass,
so that the lamb carved from Jouse's fine oak by Anfos,
had quite a distinguished appearance.
Jouse pushed his way forward to where Madame
Roustan was reciting The Five Joyful Mysteries, with-
out joy but with obvious determination: Tardon,
Germaine, my wife also would kneel/ he muttered;
whereupon Madame Roustan glared, then reluctantly
ceded her place to Marie.
And after awhile there was room for them all to
kneel down, so Anfos could see his lamb which the
Cure had been careful to place in the foreground:
*Beu Dieu/ remarked Anfos with deep admiration,
cBeu Dieu/ and he eagerly stretched his hand across
the low railing and stroked the creature.
Marie caught the hand and held it in hers: 'The
lamb now belongs to Jesus/ she whispered, 'and He
may not wish you to play with His toys/
'But I also belong to Jesus/ said Anfos. Then he
suddenly remembered the pain of his bruise and fell
to prodding his cheek once again,
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