noon
At a distance , in the east , Emily discovered Florence , with its towers rising on the brilliant horizon , and its luxuriant plain , spreading to the feet of the Apennines , speckled with gardens and magnificent villas , or coloured with groves of orange and lemon , with vines , corn , and plantations of olives and mulberry ; while , to the west , the vale opened to the waters of the Mediterranean , so distant , that they were known only by a bluish line , that appeared upon the horizon , and by the light marine vapour , which just stained the æther above . With a full heart , Emily hailed the waves , that were to bear her back to her native country , the remembrance of which , however , brought with it a pang ; for she had there no home to receive , no parents to welcome her , but was going , like a forlorn pilgrim , to weep over the sad spot , where he , who _ was _ her father , lay interred . Nor were her spirits cheered , when she considered how long it would probably be before she should see Valancourt , who might be stationed with his regiment in a distant part of France , and that , when they did meet , it would be only to lament the successful villany of Montoni ; yet , still she would have felt inexpressible delight at the thought of being once more in the same country with Valancourt , had it even been certain , that she could not see him . The intense heat , for it was now noon , obliged the travellers to look out for a shady recess , where they might rest , for a few hours , and the neighbouring thickets , abounding with wild grapes , raspberries , and figs , promised them grateful refreshment . Soon after , they turned from the road into a grove , whose thick foliage entirely excluded the sunbeams , and where a spring , gushing from the rock , gave coolness to the air ; and , having alighted and turned the horses to graze , Annette and Ludovico ran to gather fruit from the surrounding thickets , of which they soon returned with an abundance . The travellers , seated under the shade of a pine and cypress grove and on turf , enriched with such a profusion of fragrant flowers , as Emily had scarcely ever seen , even among the Pyrenees , took their simple repast , and viewed , with new delight , beneath the dark umbrage of gigantic pines , the glowing landscape stretching to the sea . Emily and Du Pont gradually became thoughtful and silent ; but Annette was all joy and loquacity , and Ludovico was gay , without forgetting the respectful distance , which was due to his companions .