a small
one, in the new style adopted by the women of Paimpol. They might
have been taken for two loving lasses writing a tender missive to some
handsome Icelander.

The one who dictated--the one with the large head-dress--drew up her
head, wool-gathering. Oh, she was old, very old, notwithstanding her
look from behind, in her small brown shawl--we mean downright old.
A sweet old granny, seventy at least. Very pretty, though, and still
fresh-coloured, with the rosy cheeks some old people have. Her _coiffe_
was drawn low upon the forehead and upon the top of the head, was
composed of two or three large rolls of muslin that seemed to telescope
out of one another, and fell on to the nape. Her venerable face, framed
in the pure white pleats, had almost a man's look, while her soft,
tender eyes wore a kindly expression. She had not the vestige of a tooth
left, and when she laughed she showed her round gums, which had still
the freshness of youth.

Although her chin had become as pointed "as the toe of a _sabot_" (as
she was in the habit of saying), her profile was not spoiled by time;
and it was easily imagined that in her youth it had been regular and
pure, like the saints' adorning a church.

She looked through the window, trying to think of news that might amuse
her grandson at sea. There existed not in the whole country of Paimpol
another dear old body like her, to invent such funny stories upon
everybody, and even upon nothing. Already in this letter there were
three or four merry tales, but without the slightest mischief, for she
had nothing ill-natured about her.

The other woman, finding that the ideas were getting scarce, began to
write the address carefully:

"TO MONSIEUR MOAN, SYLVESTRE, ABOARD THE _MARIE_, co CAPTAIN GUERMEUR,
IN THE SEA OF ICELAND, NEAR RYKAWYK."

Here she lifted her head to ask: "Is that all, Granny Moan?"

The querist was young, adorably young, a girl of twenty in fact; very
fair--a rare complexion in this corner of Brittany, where the race runs
swarthy--very fair, we say, with great grey eyes between almost black
lashes; her brows, as fair as the hair, seemed as if they had a darker
streak in their midst, which gave a wonderful expression of strength and
will to the beautiful face. The rather short profile was very dignified,
the nose continuing the line of the brow with absolute rectitude, as
in a Greek statue. A deep dimple under the lower lip foiled it up
delightfully; and from ti