It would indeed be a sad disappointment if the expected godson should turn out to be a little girl! It would not then be possible to call the newcomer Pierre.
This kinship of Yves' little child with the gulls was not of my invention: "gull" was the name given to the topmen on board the Ariane, and the name they gave to one another amongst themselves. It was not surprising, therefore, that my little godson should be deemed a blood relation of this bird of the sea.
And so, when we talked of him in our conversations at night, we used always to say:
"When will the 'little seagull' arrive?"
And we never referred to him in any other way.
[CHAPTER XLII]
BREST, 13th June, 1878.
We are staying for to-day at a casual lodging in the Rue de Siam at Brest, where the Ariane anchored this morning.
In reply to the advice of his arrival, Yves received from Toulven, from his wife's father, the following telegram:
"Little son born last night. Is going on very well. Marie also.