"
"I rather suspect his--sincerity, too, since I saw him trying to make
Papillon eat a domino. Oh, what's that?"
Up the street came a small procession; two brown-faced little boys, one
of them ringing a bell, followed by a priest in a well-washed and darned
white garment.
Theo rose and took off his hat. "It is the Viaticum," he said simply,
crossing himself.
The town was waking now; everywhere shop shutters were being taken down
and people in sabots clattered about, while a steady stream of high
carts, each with a big-boned horse between its shafts, drew up near the
fountain and deposited their owners in the market-place.
"A little later on in the year the apples make a splendid
colour-effect," commented Theo, breaking off to add in surprise, "Why,
here is father!"
It was indeed Joyselle hurrying towards them, a soft hat jammed down
over his eyes, so that he did not see them till his son accosted him.
"Father!"
"Theo!"
"Is anything wrong?" asked the young man rising.
Joyselle shook his head with a frown. "Wrong? What should be wrong?" he
returned harshly.
"But you look----"
"Hungry, probably. _Bonjour_, Brigitte. Yes, I _am_ hungry.
Pages:
264
265
266
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288