The earth had never looked so bright as we rode through the green aisles all filled with the happy song of birds.

Often on such a morning I had started on a journey, with my heart grateful for the goodness of the world.

Could I but keep the road, I should come in time to the swampy bank of the York; and then would follow the chestnut forest: and the wide marshes towards the Rappahannock; and everywhere I should meet friendly human faces, and then at night I should eat a hunter's meal below the stars.

But that was all past, and I was moving towards death in a foolish strife in which I had no heart, and where I could find no honour, I think I laughed aloud at my exceeding folly.
We turned from the path into an alley which led to an open space on the edge of a derelict clearing.

There, to my surprise, I found a considerable company assembled.