We don't know what comfort is in Russia." A machine gun "rat-tat-tat-tated" close to us, and three rockets, like a flight of startled birds, rose suddenly together on the far horizon.
"No, we have no comfort in Russia," repeated Nikitin.

"Now I fancy that an English country-house...." We had reached the further wood; the moonlight fell away from us and the shadows shifted and trembled under the reflection of rockets and a projector that swung lazily and unsteadily, like something nodding in its sleep.
On the left of the road there was a house standing back in its own garden.

I could see dimly that this was a row of country villas.
"Stand by this gate five minutes," Nikitin whispered to me.
"I must find the Colonel.

The sanitars will come and fetch you when I've settled the spot for our bandaging." Nikitin disappeared and I was quite alone.

I felt terribly desolate.