CHAPTER 19.
THE LETTERS TO X.
They reached Cirencester at five o'clock, and at once turned to the left to the Fairford road, intending to camp just outside the town till Monday; and it was here that Gregory had his first rebuff in his capacity as Requester of Camping Grounds.

He brought it upon himself by refusing to let Mary accompany him, and, indeed, refusing advice altogether.
He marched off to the farmhouse, which could be seen in the distance across the meadows, full of assurance; but misfortunes began at once.
No sooner was he well in the first meadow than a flock of geese suddenly appeared from nowhere and approached him.

There is something very horrid about the approach of a flock of geese.

They are not really dangerous, but they lower their heads and hiss and come on so steadily and are so impossible to deal with.

A dog can be hit with a stick; but you can't hit a goose.