It was a fine wooded country in which I found myself, and I soon struck off the beaten road and took to the forest and the fields.

In places the ground was almost covered with meadow-rue, like green shadows on the hillsides, not yet in seed, but richly umbrageous.

In the long green grass of the meadows shone the yellow star-flowers, and the sweet-flags were blooming along the marshy edges of the ponds.

The violets had disappeared, but they were succeeded by wild geraniums and rank-growing vetches.
I remember that I kept thinking from time to time, all the forenoon, as my mind went back swiftly and warmly to the two fine friends from whom I had so recently parted: How the Vedders would enjoy this! Or, I must tell the Vedders that.

And two or three times I found myself in animated conversations with them in which I generously supplied all three parts.