Outside, the gray mist of the dawn fell over the land, and the dead leaves were again blown dancingly into the porch.

Steps on the footpath!  Somebody was coming?  She rose, and quickly smoothed down her cap and composed her face.  Nearer drew the steps.  She assumed the air of one who might be there by chance; for above all, she did not wish to appear yet like the widow of a shipwrecked mariner.

It happened to be Fante Floury, the wife of the second mate of the Leopoldine.  She understood immediately what Gaud was doing there:  it was useless to dissemble with her.  At first each woman stood speechless before the other.  They were angry and almost hated each other for having met holding a like sentiment of apprehension.

“All the men of Treguier and Saint-Brieuc have been back for a week,” said Fante at last, in an unfeeling, muffled, half-irritated voice.

She carried a blessed taper in her hand, to offer up a prayer.  Gaud did not wish yet to resort to that extreme resource of despairing wives.  Yet silently she entered the chapel behind Fante, and they knelt down together side by side like two sisters.

To the Star of the Sea they offered ardent imploring prayers, with their whole soul in them.  A sound of sobbing was alone heard, as their rapid tears swiftly fell upon the floor.  They rose together, more confident and softened.  Fante held up Gaud, who staggered; and taking her in her arms, kissed her.

Wiping their eyes and smoothing their disheveled hair, they brushed off the salt dust from the flag-stones which had soiled their gowns, and went away in opposite directions without another word.

This end of September was like another summer, only a little less lively.  The weather was so beautiful that had it not been for the dead leaves which fell upon the roads, one might have thought that June had come back again.  Husbands and sweethearts had all returned, and everywhere was the joy of a second springtime of love.

At last, one day, one of the missing ships was signaled.  Which one was it?

The groups of speechless and anxious women had rapidly formed on the cliff.  Gaud, pale and trembling, was there, by the side of her Yann’s father.

“I’m almost sure,” said the old fisher, “I’m almost sure it’s them.  A red rail and a topsail that clews up,—­it’s very like them, anyhow.  What do you make it, Gaud?”

“No, it isn’t,” he went on, with sudden discouragement:  “we’ve made a mistake again; the boom isn’t the same, and ours has a jigger-sail.  Well, well, it isn’t our boat this time, it’s only the Marie-Jeanne.  Never mind, my lass, surely they’ll not be long now.”

But day followed day, and night succeeded night, with uninterrupted serenity.

Gaud continued to dress up every day; like a poor crazed woman, always in fear of being taken for the widow of a shipwrecked sailor, feeling exasperated when others looked furtively and compassionately at her, and glancing aside so that she might not meet those glances which froze her very blood.