Part 2 In The Breton Land Chapter 2

In Brittany, towards the end of September, on an already chilly¹ day,Gaud was walking alone across the common of Ploubazlanec, in thedirection of Pors-Even.

　　The Icelanders had returned a month back, except two, which hadperished in that June gale². But the /Marie/ had held her own, and Yannand all her crew were peacefully at home.

　　Gaud felt very troubled at the idea of going to Yann's house. She hadseen him once since the return from Iceland, when they had all gonetogether to see poor little Sylvestre off to the navy. Theyaccompanied him to the coaching-house, he blubbering a little and hisgrandmother weeping, and he had started to join the fleet at Brest.

　　Yann, who had come also to bid good-bye to his little friend, hadfeigned to look aside when Gaud looked at him, and as there were manypeople round the coach to see the other sailors off, and parentsassembled to say good-bye, the pair had not a chance to speak. So, atlast, she had formed a strong resolution, and rather timidly wendedher way towards the Gaos's home.

　　Her father had formerly³ had mutual⁴ interests with Yann's father(complicated business, which, with peasants and fishers alike, seemsto be endless), and owed him a hundred francs for the sale of a boat,which had just taken place in a raffle⁵.

　　"You ought to let me carry the money to him, father," she had said. "Ishall be pleased to see Marie Gaos. I never have been so far inPloubazlanec, either, and I shall enjoy the long walk."To speak the truth, she was curiously⁶ anxious to know Yann's family,which she might some day enter; and she also wanted to see the houseand village.

　　In one of their last chats, before his departure, Sylvestre hadexplained to her, in his own way, his friend's shyness.

　　"D'ye see, Gaud, he's like this, he won't marry anybody, that's hisidea; he only loves the sea, and one day even, in fun, he said he hadpromised to be wedded⁷ to it."Whereupon, she forgave him all his peculiar⁸ ways, and remembered onlyhis beautiful open smile on the night of the ball, and she hoped onand on.

　　If she were to meet him in his home, of course she would say nothing;she had no intention of being so bold. But if he saw her closelyagain, perhaps he might speak.

1 chilly   

adj.凉快的，寒冷的

参考例句：

• I feel chilly without a coat.我由于没有穿大衣而感到凉飕飕的。
• I grew chilly when the fire went out.炉火熄灭后，寒气逼人。

2 gale   

n.大风，强风，一阵闹声（尤指笑声等）

参考例句：

• We got our roof blown off in the gale last night.昨夜的大风把我们的房顶给掀掉了。
• According to the weather forecast,there will be a gale tomorrow.据气象台预报，明天有大风。

3 formerly   

adv.从前，以前

参考例句：

• We now enjoy these comforts of which formerly we had only heard.我们现在享受到了过去只是听说过的那些舒适条件。
• This boat was formerly used on the rivers of China.这船从前航行在中国内河里。

4 mutual   

adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的

参考例句：

• We must pull together for mutual interest.我们必须为相互的利益而通力合作。
• Mutual interests tied us together.相互的利害关系把我们联系在一起。

5 raffle   

n.废物，垃圾，抽奖售卖；v.以抽彩出售

参考例句：

• The money was raised by the sale of raffle tickets.这笔款子是通过出售购物彩券筹集的。
• He won a car in the raffle.他在兑奖售物活动中赢得了一辆汽车。

6 curiously   

adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地

参考例句：

• He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
• He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。

7 wedded   

adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• She's wedded to her job. 她专心致志于工作。
• I was invited over by the newly wedded couple for a meal. 我被那对新婚夫妇请去吃饭。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 peculiar   

adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的

参考例句：

• He walks in a peculiar fashion.他走路的样子很奇特。
• He looked at me with a very peculiar expression.他用一种很奇怪的表情看着我。