St. Aubert, when he had recovered from the terror occasioned him by this accident, expressed surprise on seeing Valancourt, who explained his unexpected appearance by saying, “You, sir, renewed my taste for society; when you had left the hamlet, it did indeed appear a solitude. I determined, therefore, since my object was merely amusement, to change the scene; and I took this road, because I knew it led through a more romantic tract of mountains than the spot I have left. Besides,” added he, hesitating for an instant, “I will own, and why should I not? that I had some hope of overtaking you.”
“And I have made you a very unexpected return for the compliment,” said St. Aubert, who lamented again the rashness which had produced the accident, and explained the cause of his late alarm. But Val
