n granite and whitewash. Only the fine white bed remained of all
past splendour, and involuntarily Yann's eyes rested there.

He said nothing. Why did he not go? The old grandmother, although still
so sharp in her lucid intervals, appeared not to notice him. How odd! So
they remained over against one another, seeming respectively to question
with a yearning desire. But the moments were flitting, and each second
seemed to emphasize the silence between them. They gazed at one
another more and more searchingly, as if in solemn expectation of some
wonderful, exquisite event, which was too long in coming.

"Gaud," he began, in a low grave voice, "if you're still of a mind
now----"

What was he going to say? She felt instinctively that he had suddenly
taken a mighty resolution--rapidly as he always did, but hardly dared
word it.

"If you be still of a mind--d'ye see, the fish has sold well this year,
and I've a little money ahead----"

"If she were still of a mind!" What was he asking of her? Had she heard
aright? She felt almost crushed under the immensity of what she thought
she premised.

All the while, old Yvonne, in her corner, pricked up her ears, feeling
happiness approach.

"We could make a splice on it--a marriage, right off, Mademoiselle Gaud,
if you are still of the same mind?"

He listened here for her answer, which did not come. What could stop her
from pronouncing that "yes?" He looked astonished and frightened, she
could see that. Her hands clutched the table edge. She had turned quite
white and her eyes were misty; she was voiceless, and looked like some
maid dying in her flower.

"Well, Gaud, why don't you answer?" said Granny Yvonne, who had risen
and come towards them. "Don't you see, it rather surprises her, Monsieur
Yann. You must excuse her. She'll think it over and answer you later on.
Sit you down a bit, Monsieur Yann, and take a glass of cider with us."

It was not the surprise, but ecstasy that prevented Gaud from answering;
no words at all came to her relief. So it really was true that he was
good and kind-hearted. She knew him aright--the same true Yann, her own,
such as she never had ceased to see him, notwithstanding his sternness
and his rough refusal. For a long time he had disdained her, but now he
accepted her, although she was poor. No doubt it had been his wish all
through; he may have had a motive for so acting, which she would know
hereafter; but, for the present, she had no i