the pauses of silence, such as had formerly interrupted the conversations of valancourt and emily, were more frequent today than ever.valancourt often dropped suddenly from the most animating vivacity into fits of deep musing, and there was, sometimes, an unaffected melancholy in his smile, which emily could not avoid understanding, for her heart was interested in the sentiment it spoke.
st.aubert was refreshed by the shades, and they continued to saunter under them, following, as nearly as they could guess, the direction of the road, till they perceived that they had totally lost it.they had continued near the brow of the precipice, allured by the scenery it exhibited, while the road wound far away over the cliff above.
valancourt called loudly to michael, but heard no voice, except his own, echoing among the rocks, and his various efforts to regain the road were equally unsuccessful.while they were thus circumstanced, they perceived a shepherd's cabin, between the boles of the trees at some distance, and valancourt bounded on first to ask assistance.
when he reached it, he saw only two little children, at play, on the turf before the door.he looked into the hut, but no person was there, and the eldest of the boys told him that their father was with his flocks, and their mother was gone down into the vale, but would be back presently.as he stood, considering what was further to be done, on a sudden he heard michael's voice roaring forth most manfully among the cliffs above, till he made their echoes ring.