Atthedooroccurredoneofthosemomentsofindecisionwhentheheartseemstostopbeating。Thegrandamwentinwithoutturninground，thenGaud，hesitating，andYann，behind，entered，too。
Hewasintheirhouseforthefirsttimeinhislife——probablywithoutanyreason。Whatcouldhewant？Ashepassedoverthethresholdhetouchedhishat，andthenhiseyesfellanddweltuponSylvestre\'sportraitinitssmallblack-beadedframe。Hewentslowlyuptoit，astoatomb。
Gaudremainedstandingwithherhandsrestingonthetable。Helookedaroundhim；shewatchedhimtakeasilentinspectionoftheirpoverty。
Verypoorlookedthiscottageofthetwoforsakenwomen。Atleasthemightfeelsomepityforher，seeingherreducedtothismiseryinsideitsplaingraniteandwhitewash。Onlythefinewhitebedremainedofallpastsplendour，andinvoluntarilyYann\'seyesrestedthere。
Hesaidnothing。Whydidhenotgo？Theoldgrandmother，althoughstillsosharpinherlucidintervals，appearednottonoticehim。Howodd!Sotheyremainedoveragainstoneanother，seemingrespectivelytoquestionwithayearningdesire。Butthemomentswereflitting，andeachsecondseemedtoemphasizethesilencebetweenthem。Theygazedatoneanothermoreandmoresearchingly，asifinsolemnexpectationofsomewonderful，exquisiteevent，whichwastoolongincoming。