After the spring day they had enjoyed, the falling night brought backthe impression of winter, and they returned to dine before their fire,which was flaming with new branches. It was their last meal together;but they had some hours yet, and were not saddened.

　　After dinner, they recovered the sweet impression of spring again, outon the Pors-Even road; for the air was calm, almost genial, and thetwilight still lingered over the land.

　　They went to see the family--for Yann to bid good-bye--and returnedearly, as they wished to rise with break of day.

　　The next morning the quay of Paimpol was crowded with people. Thedepartures for Iceland had begun the day before, and with each tidethere was a fresh fleet off. On this particular morning, fifteenvessels were to start with the /Leopoldine/, and the wives or mothersof the sailors were all present at the getting under sail.

　　Gaud, who was now the wife of an Icelander, was much surprised to findherself among them all, and brought thither for the same fatefulpurpose. Her position seemed to have become so intensified within thelast few days, that she had barely had time to realize things as theywere; gliding irresistibly down an incline, she had arrived at thisinexorable conclusion that she must bear up for the present, and do asthe others did, who were accustomed to it.

　　She never before had been present at these farewells; hence all wasnew to her. Among these women was none like her, and she felt herdifference and isolation. Her past life, as a lady, was stillremembered, and caused her to be set aside as one apart.

　　The weather had remained fine on this parting-day; but out at sea aheavy swell came from the west, foretelling wind, and the sea, lyingin wait for these new adventurers, burst its crests afar.

　　Around Gaud stood many good-looking wives like her, and touching, withtheir eyes big with tears; others were thoughtless and lively; thesehad no heart or were not in love. Old women, threatened nearly bydeath, wept as they clung to their sons; sweethearts kissed eachother; half-maudlin sailors sang to cheer themselves up, while otherswent on board with gloomy looks as to their execution.

　　Many sad incidents could be marked; there were poor luckless fellowswho had signed their contracts unconsciously, when in liquor in thegrog-shop, and they had to be dragged on board by force; their ownwives helping the gendarmes. Others, noted for their great strength,had been drugged in drink beforehand, and were carried like corpses onstretchers, and flung down in the forecastles.

　　Gaud was frightened by all this; what companions were these for herYann? and what a fearful thing was this Iceland, to inspire men withsuch terror of it?

　　Yet there were sailors who smiled, and were happy; who, doubtless,like Yann, loved the untrammelled life and hard fishing work; thosewere the sound, able seamen, who had fine noble countenances; if theywere unmarried they went off recklessly, merely casting a last look onthe lasses; and if they were married, they kissed their wives andlittle ones, with fervent sadness and deep hopefulness as to returninghome all the richer.

　　Gaud was a little comforted when she saw that all the /Leopoldines/were of the latter class, forming really a picked crew.

　　The vessels set off two by two, or four by four, drawn out by thetugs. As soon as they moved the sailors raised their caps and, full-voiced, struck up the hymn to the Virgin: "/Salut, Etoile-de-la-Mer/!"(All Hail! Star of the Sea!), while on the quay, the women waved theirhands for a last farewell, and tears fell upon the lace strings of thecaps.

　　As soon as the /Leopoldine/ started, Gaud quickly set off towards thehouse of the Gaoses. After an hour and a half's walk along the coast,through the familiar paths of Ploubazlanec, she arrived there, at thevery land's end, within the home of her new family.

　　The /Leopoldine/ was to cast anchor off Pors-Even before startingdefinitely in the evening, so the married pair had made a lastappointment here. Yann came to land in the yawl, and stayed anotherthree hours with her to bid her good-bye on firm land. The weather wasstill beautiful and spri............