several nice places along this coast . . .' For he did
not wish to fail in politeness.
And so it fell out that before they left they had
planned quite a number of little excursions: they would
walk up to Eusebe's vineyards, they would show her
the old citadel by moonlight, they would take her to a
certain olive grove where Saint Loup was reputed to
have slain many pagans; these and several other
excursions they had planned before leaving — some-
what to their own amazement.
cDo we like her, Christophe?5 Jan enquired later.
CI am not quite sure . . .* Christophe said doubt-
fully.
cls she beautiful, do you think?5 questioned Jan.
'She is very beautiful,' answered Christophe.
§3
After all it was pleasant to befriend -^Eliana who
complained that her life was intolerably lonely;
pleasant also to feel that she liked them so much, that
indeed she was growing dependent upon them — this
dependence of hers had a charm all its own, for it
flattered their timid, self-conscious manhood.
*I had meant to find work at once,' she told Jan,
'but I cannot desert my half-blind grandfather. Ah,
no, I must stay with him till the end.5
And this remark Jan passed on to the Cure: 'Is
it not noble of her, mon pere!5
The Cure did not answer immediately, then he said:
*We all have our duties, my son;5 and his prominent
eyes glanced sharply at his pupil. He was thinking:
*It is foolish to interfere, if I do he may take the bit
between his teeth. Better wait and watch —so far
all seems well.5 Then he sighed, feeling youth to be
a terrible problem.
Madame Roustan, however, was not so tactful and
must nag until Jan flew into a temper: cls it her fault
398