e newly married pair--sisters
and brothers, cousin Gaos the pilot, Guermeur, Keraez, Yvon Duff, all
of the old _Marie's_ crew, who were now the _Leopoldine's_; four very
pretty bridesmaids, with their hair-plaits wound round their ears, like
the empresses' in ancient Byzantium, and their modern white caps, shaped
like sea-shells; and four best men, all broad-shouldered Icelanders,
with large proud eyes.

Downstairs, of course, there was eating and cooking going on; the whole
train of the wedding procession had gathered there in disorder; and the
extra servants, hired from Paimpol, well-nigh lost their senses before
the mighty lumbering up of the capacious hearth with pots and pans.

Yann's parents would have wished a richer wife for their son, naturally,
but Gaud was known now as a good, courageous girl; and then, in spite
of her lost fortune, she was the greatest beauty in the country, and it
flattered them to see the couple so well matched.

The old father was inclined to be merry after the soup, and spoke of the
bringing up of his fourteen little Gaoses; but they were all doing well,
thanks to the ten thousand francs that had made them well off.

Neighbour Guermeur related the tricks he played in the navy, yarns about
China, the West Indies, and Brazil, making the young ones who would be
off some day, open their eyes in wonderment.

"There is a cry against the sea-service," said the old sailor, laughing,
"but a man can have fine fun in it."

The weather did not clear up; on the contrary, the wind and rain raged
through the gloomy night; and in spite of the care taken, some of the
guests were fidgety about their smacks anchored in the harbour, and
spoke of getting up to go and see if all was right. But here a more
jovial sound than ever was heard from downstairs, where the younger
members of the party were supping together; cheers of joy and peals of
laughter ascended. The little cousins were beginning to feel exhilarated
by the cider.

Boiled and roasted meats had been served up with poultry, different
kinds of fish, omelets and pancakes.

The debate had turned upon fishery and smuggling, and the best means of
fooling the coast-guardsmen, who, as we all know, are the sworn enemies
of honest seafarers.

Upstairs, at the grand table, old circumnavigators went so far as to
relate droll stories, in the vernacular.

But the wind was raging altogether too strong; for the windows shook
with a terrible clatter, a