Much exhausted, and suffering greatly now for want of food, I turned aside into a lane and sat down under the hedge.

Ere many minutes had elapsed, I was again on my feet, however, and again searching something--a resource, or at least an informant.

A pretty little house stood at the top of the lane, with a garden before it, exquisitely neat and brilliantly blooming.

I stopped at it.

What business had I to approach the white door or touch the glittering knocker?
In what way could it possibly be the interest of the inhabitants of that dwelling to serve me?
Yet I drew near and knocked.