The Adventures of Valancourt

Well, not adventures of his exactly. More like Valancourt's time with St. Aubert and Emily as they try to get away from their sorrows. Valancourt plays a rather significant role, cheering up St. Aubert significantly with his company. His impact in the story overall may be little (although he may reappear later in the story), but he still comes across as a likable character.
Valancourt is basically a young man, whom's brother has been acquainted with St. Aubert, who possess a sound mind and enjoys traveling through nature with his dogs. His friendly many caused him to become quick friends with St. Aubert. Please, consider the following if you have not gotten to these points if you have not gotten that far yet:

1) Valancourt's relationship with St. Aubert.
2) Emily's thoughts of Valacourt
3) The representation that Valacourt is to St. Aubert's youth
and finally
4) Valancourt parting with his book of poems by Petrarch in exchange for one of Emily's

The last one may hint of Emily's affection for Valancourt, but this comes from a very brief moment of the book and the idea is very vague. This is even more so because the entire time they were on the road it followed more of St. Aubert's thoughts rather than Emily

I care not, Fortune! what you me deny;

You cannot rob me of free nature's grasp;

You cannot shut the windows of the sky,

Through which Aurora shews her brigthening face;

You cannot bar my constant feet to trace

The woods and lawns, by living stream, at eve:

Let health my nerves and finer fibres brace,

And I their toys to the great childreb keave:

Of fancy, reason, virtue, nought can me bereave.

Thomson