after employing himself, for about an hour, in botanizing, dinner was served.it was a repast, to which gratitude, for being again permitted to visit this spot, gave sweetness; and family happiness once more smiled beneath these shades.monsieur st.aubert conversed with unusual cheerfulness; every object delighted his senses.the refreshing pleasure from the first view of nature, after the pain of illness, and the confinement of a sick-chamber, is above the conceptions, as well as the descriptions, of those in health.the green woods and pastures; the flowery turf; the blue concave of the heavens; the balmy air; the murmur of the limpid stream; and even the hum of every little insect of the shade, seem to revivify the soul, and make mere existence bliss.
madame st.aubert, reanimated by the cheerfulness and recovery of her husband, was no longer sensible of the indisposition which had lately oppressed her; and, as she sauntered along the wood-walks of this romantic glen, and conversed with him, and with her daughter, she often looked at them nately with a degree of tenderness, that filled her eyes with tears.st.aubert observed this more than once, and gently reproved her for the emotion; but she could only smile, clasp his hand, and that of emily, and weep the more.he felt the tender enthusiasm stealing upon himself in a degree that became almost painful; his features assumed a serious air, and he could not forbear secretly sighing--'perhaps i shall some time look back to these moments, as to the summit of my happiness, with hopeless regret.but let me not misuse them by useless anticipation; let me hope i shall not live to mourn the loss of those who are dearer to me than life.'