Then, when he had left them as well as might be for the night, he set out to return on his former track by memory.

The island was very peaceful; on field or hill or shore he met no one, except here and there a plodding fisherman, who gave him "Good-evening" without apparently knowing or caring who he was.

The horse they knew, no doubt, that was enough.
He made the same round as before, beginning at the other end.

At the house where the woman was ill the girl who was nursing her remained.

At the next house the young girl, who was dressed for the road, ingenuously claimed his protection for her homeward way.
"I will go with you, monsieur, it will be more safe for me." So he put her on his horse, but they did not talk to one another.
At the third house they found Madame Le Maitre weeping passionately over a dead baby, and the lout of a boy weeping with her.