Softly, so as not to wake the child, he sang a few bars of the old
Schwabian folk-song:
"… Für die Zeit, wo du g'liebt mi hast,
Da dank' i dir schön,
Und i wünsch', dass dir's anders wo
Besser mag geh'n…."
"… For the time when thou did'st love me,
I do thank thee well;
And I hope that elsewhere
Thou may'st better fare…."
"Christophe!" said Olivier.
Christophe hugged him close.
"Come, old fellow," he said. "We have fared well."
The four of them sat near the sleeping child. They did not speak. And if they had been asked what they were thinking,—with the countenance of humility, they would have replied only:
"Love."