Adam's Breed

Gian-Luca was up betimes the next morning, and his feet -- thanks perhaps to Fabio's prescription -- were certainly much less painful. In Winchester he stopped to buy provisions, which he stuffed away in his knapsack; then he started to tramp again in good earnest, lured on by the thought of the forest. He had never been in this part of the country, and he noticed many pleasant things about it; all the cottages, for instance, were heavily thatched, and one cottage that he passed had a queer little window shaped like an eye, just under its hair, which gave it an inquisitive appearance. The walls, too, were thatched, the thatch sitting astride them, jauntily riding their tops.

The road became increasingly lovely; it was bordered once more with trees. "They look strong and proud and happy! " thought Gian-Luca, and he wondered if they felt the nearness of the forest, and if that was what made them look so happy.