"His sweetheart's a trifle old!" said the others, a couple of days later, asthey laughed after Sylvestre and his grandmother, "but they seem to get onfine together all the same."It amused them to see the boy, for the first time, walk through thestreets of Recouvrance, with a woman at his side, like the rest of them; and,bending towards her with a tender look, whisper what seemed to be verysoft nothings.

　　She was a very quick, diminutive person seen from behind, with rathershort skirts for the fashion of the day; and a scanty brown shawl, and ahigh Paimpol /coiffe/. She, too, hanging on his arm, turned towards himwith an affectionate glance.

　　"A trifle old was his sweetheart!"That's what the others called after him, we say, but without spite, forany one could see that she was his old granny, come up from the country.

　　She had come, too, in a hurry, suddenly terrified at the news of his suddendeparture; for this Chinese war had already cost Paimpol many sailors. Soshe had scraped together all her poor little savings, put her best Sundaydress and a fresh clean /coiffe/ in a box, and had set out to kiss him once61AN ICELAND FISHERMANagain.

　　She had gone straight to the barracks to ask for him; at first hisadjutant had refused to let him go out.

　　"If you've anything to say, my good woman, go and speak to thecaptain yourself. There he is, passing."So she calmly walk............