No more trees now; nothing but the shorn heaths with their green reeds, and here and there the consecrated crosses rose, their outstretched arms outlined against the sky, giving the whole country the aspect of a cemetery.
At one of the cross-ways, guarded by a colossal image of Christ, she hesitated between two roads running among thorny slopes.
A child happening to pass, came to her rescue: "Good-day, Mademoiselle Gaud!" It was one of the little Gaoses, one of Yann's wee sisters.

Gaud kissed her and asked her if her parents were at home.
"Father and mother are, yes.

But brother Yann," said the little one, without intent, of course, "has gone to Loguivy; but I don't think he'll be very late home again." So he was not there?
Again destiny was between them, everywhere and always.

She thought at first of putting off her visit to another day.
But the little lass who had met her might mention the fact.

What would they think at Pors-Even?
So she decided to go on, but loitering so as to give Yann time to return.
As she neared his village, in this lost country, all things seemed rougher and more desolate.