You can spend a good two hours with us yet, and still have time to depart for the French army." It was evident that Lord James Ivor knew what he was talking about, since, as far as John could see, the khaki army lay outspread on the turf.

These men were too much exhausted and too much dulled to danger to stir merely because the cannon were blazing.

It took the sharp orders of their officers to move them.

Shells from the German guns began to fall along the fringe of the troops, but thousands slept heavily on.
John, after disposing of the excellent rations offered to him, sat down on the grass with Wharton, Carstairs and Lord James Ivor.

The sun was now waning, but the western sky was full of gold, and the yellow rays slanting across the hills and fields made them vivid with light.