But she thought not of herself, and the animated smile she gave him, told how much she felt herself obliged for the preference of her father.
On their way, the stranger, whose name was Valancourt, stepped on first to speak to his hostess, and she came out to welcome St.Aubert into a cottage, much superior to any he had seen.

This good woman seemed very willing to accommodate the strangers, who were soon compelled to accept the only two beds in the place.

Eggs and milk were the only food the cottage afforded; but against scarcity of provisions St.Aubert had provided, and he requested Valancourt to stay, and partake with him of less homely fare; an invitation, which was readily accepted, and they passed an hour in intelligent conversation.

St.Aubert was much pleased with the manly frankness, simplicity, and keen susceptibility to the grandeur of nature, which his new acquaintance discovered; and, indeed, he had often been heard to say, that, without a certain simplicity of heart, this taste could not exist in any strong degree.
The conversation was interrupted by a violent uproar without, in which the voice of the muleteer was heard above every other sound.

Valancourt started from his seat, and went to enquire the occasion; but the dispute continued so long afterwards, that St.Aubert went himself, and found Michael quarrelling with the hostess, because she had refused to let his mules lie in a little room where he and three of her sons were to pass the night.