Paul and Virginia . ood ; but he fatigued himself to no 88 PAUL AND VIRGINIA. purpose. He then climbed to the top of a lofty tree,whence he hoped at least to perceive the mountain ofthe Three Breasts: but he could discern nothing aroundhim but the tops of trees, some of which were gildedwith the last beams of the setting sun. Already theshadows of the mountains were spreading over the forestsin the valleys. The wind lulled, as is usually the case atsunset. The most profound silence reigned in those awfulsolitudes, which was only interrupted by thecry of the deer, who came to their lairs inthat
Paul and Virginia . ood ; but he fatigued himself to no 88 PAUL AND VIRGINIA. purpose. He then climbed to the top of a lofty tree,whence he hoped at least to perceive the mountain ofthe Three Breasts: but he could discern nothing aroundhim but the tops of trees, some of which were gildedwith the last beams of the setting sun. Already theshadows of the mountains were spreading over the forestsin the valleys. The wind lulled, as is usually the case atsunset. The most profound silence reigned in those awfulsolitudes, which was only interrupted by thecry of the deer, who came to their lairs inthat unfrequented spot. Paul, in the hopethat some hunter would hearhis voice, called out as loud as he was able, \ •• Come, come tothe help of Virginia. But the echoes ofthe forest alone an-swered his call, andrepeated again and again, Virginia, Virginia. Paul at length descended from the tree, overcome withfatigue and vexation. He looked around in order to makesome arrangement for passing the night in that desert;. PAUL AND VIRGINIA. 89 but he could find neither fountain nor palm tree, nor evena branch of dry wood fit for kindling a fire. He was thenimpressed, by experience, with the sense of his own weak-ness, and began to weep. Virginia said to him, Do not weep, my dear brother, or I shall be over-whelmed with grief. I am the cause of all your sorrow,and of all that our mothers are suffering at this find we ought to do nothing, not even good, withoutconsulting our parents. Oh, I have been very imprudent!and she began to shed tears. Let us pray to God, mydear brother, she again said, and He will hear us. They had scarcely finished their prayer when theyheard the barking of a dog. It must be the dog of some hunter, said Paul,who comes here at night, to lie in wait for the deer. Soon after, the dog began barking again with increasedviolence. Surely, said Virginia, it is Fidele, our own dog:yes, now I know his bark. Are we then so near home ?at the foot of our own moun
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