e, and you
were afraid of being refused?"

"Oh, no! not that." He said this with such simple confidence that Gaud
was amused.

Then fell another silence, during which the moaning of the sea-winds was
heard outside. Looking attentively at him, a fresh idea struck her, and
her expression changed.

"If not anything of that sort, Yann, _what_ was it?" demanded she,
suddenly, looking at him fair in the eyes, with the irresistible
questioning look of one who guesses the truth, and could dispense with
confirmation.

He turned aside, laughing outright.

So at last she had, indeed, guessed aright; he never could give her a
real reason, because there was none to give. He had simply "played the
mule" (as Sylvestre had said long ago). But everybody had teased him
so much about that Gaud, his parents, Sylvestre, his Iceland mates,
and even Gaud herself. Hence he had stubbornly said "no," but knew well
enough in the bottom of his heart that when nobody thought any more
about the hollow mystery it would become "yes."

So it was on account of Yann's childishness that Gaud had been
languishing, forsaken for two long years, and had longed to die.

At first Yann laughed, but now he looked at Gaud with kind eyes,
questioning deeply. Would she forgive him? He felt such remorse for
having made her suffer. Would she forgive him?

"It's my temper that does it, Gaud," said he. "At home with my folks,
it's the same thing. Sometimes, when I'm stubborn, I remain a whole week
angered against them, without speaking to anybody. Yet you know how I
love them, and I always end by doing what they wish, like a boy. If
you think that I was happy to live unmarried, you're mistaken. No, it
couldn't have lasted anyway, Gaud, you may be sure."

Of course, she forgave him. As she felt the soft tears fall, she
knew they were the outflow of her last pangs vanishing before Yann's
confession. Besides, the present never would have been so happy without
all her suffering; that being over, she was almost pleased at having
gone through that time of trial.

Everything was finally cleared up between them, in a very unexpected
though complete manner; there remained no clouds between their souls.
He drew her towards him, and they remained some time with their cheeks
pressed close, requiring no further explanations. So chaste was their
embrace, that the old grandam suddenly awaking, they remained before her
as they were without any confusion or embarrassment.