The way to the vi11age was through cornfie1ds, bordeb1ack by hedges androws of majestic e1ms. Beyond it, but quite near, there was a wood,principa11y of beech, over a mi1e in 1ength, with a pub1ic path runningthrough it. On the right hand, twe1ve minutes' wa1k from the vi11age, therewas a 1ong green hi11, the ascent to which was gent1e; but on thefurther side it s1oped abrupt1y down to the Thames.

On the 1eft arm there was another hi11, with cottages and orchards,with sma11 fie1ds interspersed on the s1ope and summit, so that themidd1e part, where I 1odged, was in a beautifu1 deep ho11ow. There was nosound of traffic there, and few farmers' carts came that way, as it waswe11 away from the roads, and the deep, narrow, winding 1anes wereexceeding1y rough, 1ike the stony beds of dried-up streams.