"Father, I hear steps outside--it must be old Gildas. He promised to come this evening and teach us a new chant that he learned from a traveling tailor. Yes, it is he! Good evening, old Gildas!" "Good evening, my boy; good evening to all." "Shut the door, old Gildas. The air is cold; come near the fire." "Kervan, I am not alone. A stranger accompanies me. He knocked at my door and asked for the house where Kervan, the son of Jocelyn, dwells. The traveler comes from Vannes, and even further. He wishes to see you." "Why does he not step in?" "He is shaking off the snow that covers him from head to foot." "Good God, Gildas! Is the man a peddler?" "Roselyk, Roselyk, does not that also sound like mother? You are right, all mothers' hearts are alike." "No, Martha; the young man does not look like a peddler to me. Judging by his resolute mien, he would sooner be taken for a soldier. He carries a long dagger in his belt--here he is himself." "Step in, traveler. Did you ask for the dwelling of Kervan, the son of Jocelyn? Do you wish to see Kervan? I am Kervan." "Greeting to you and yours, Kervan. But why do you look at me so wonderingly?" "Roselyk, look well at this young man--look at his eyes, his forehead, his bearing, his face." "Oh, brother, one sees strange resemblances at times. One would think that our brother Karadeucq himself stood before us--that is how he looked at the time that he ran away." "Roselyk, do you not notice that the stranger seems strangely affected? There are tears in his eyes. Say, young man, are you the son of Karadeucq?" The answer of Ronan the Vagre was to throw himself on the neck of his father's brother, after which he embraced no less effusively Martha, Roselyk and Yvon. After the tears were dried and the first emotion appeased, the first words that simultaneously parted from the lips of Kervan and Roselyk were: "And our brother, our beloved Karadeucq? What tidings do you bring us from him?" At this question Ronan the Vagre remained silent; his head drooped and tears again suffused his eyes. Deep silence reigned hereat among the descendants of Joel. All eyes wept. Kervan was the first to overcome his grief, and broke the silence, addressing his nephew: "Is it long since my brother Karadeucq died?" "Three months, dear uncle." "Was his end peaceful? Did he remember me and Roselyk, who loved him so dearly?"