no, Eusebe had quite other plans in his drink-fuddled
brain— there was Beauvais for instance. Beauvais
would be an excellent match; with her beauty and
wits ^Eliana could catch him if she wished. Thus was
added yet one more dream to the dreams that lurked
in Mere Melanie's bottles.
However, despite Eusebe's annoyance,, Christophe
would arrive with flowers for JEliana — humble
flowers that the old sandal-maker called weeds and
that shared the slopes of the hills with the maquis:
'Look,5 Christophe would stammer, CI have brought
you these, they are wild . . . not precisely what I
could desire. . . .'
She would thank him coldly then lay them aside,
not even troubling to put them in water.
The day came when he actually offered her the
plaque that Anfos had carved for his First Communion:
'This is something I very much value,5 he said, cthat
is why I am anxious that you should have it.'
^Eliana stared at the Chalice and Host surrounded
by a choir of birds and much glory: 'Not so bad for
the work of a half-wit;5 she remarked in a voice that
she meant to be irritating.
Christophe snatched it away: cYou are cruel!5
he said sharply, 'Anfos gives of his best — he carved
this with great love.5
cThen why do you not keep the thing?5 she enquired.
cAssuredly I will keep it;5 scowled Christophe.
But he could not remain angry with her for long,
and his anger once spent he became very humble,
begging her to come out in Goundran5s boat, or to
climb to the old citadel by moonlight, or to walk to
the vineyards beyond the town: 'Just this once
JLliana . . .5 he would plead, cjust this once.5
She would smile as she looked at him furtively, then
turning her head aside, would refuse him.
And now even while he worked he must brood; there
413