第54章

Allourhousewasquitesnowedup，exceptwherewehadpurgedaway，bydintofconstantshovellings。Thekitchenwasasdarkanddarkerthanthecider-cellar，andlonglinesoffurrowedscollopsranevenuptothechimney-stacks。Severalwindowsfellrightinwards，throughtheweightofthesnowagainstthem；andthefewthatstood，bulgedin，andbentlikeanoldbruisedlanthorn。Wewereobligedtocookbycandle-light；wewereforcedtoreadbycandle-light；asforbaking，wecouldnotdoit，becausetheovenwastoochill；andaloadoffaggotsonlybroughtalittlewetdownthesidesofit。

Forwhenthesunburstforthatlastuponthatworldofwhite，whathebroughtwasneitherwarmth，norcheer，norhopeofsoftening；onlyaclearershaftofcold，fromthevioletdepthsofsky。Long-drawnalleysofwhitehazeseemedtoleadtowardshim，yetsuchashecouldnotcomedown，withanywarmthremaining。Broadwhitecurtainsofthefrost-fogloopedaroundthelowersky，onthevergeofhillandvalley，andabovetheladentrees。Onlyroundthesunhimself，andthespotofheavenheclaimed，clusteredabrightpurple-blue，clear，andcalm，anddeep。

Thatnightsuchafrostensuedaswehadneverdreamedof，neitherreadinancientbooks，orhistoriesofFrobisher。Thekettlebythefirefroze，andthecrockuponthehearth-cheeks；manymenwerekilled，andcattlerigidintheirhead-ropes。ThenIheardthatfearfulsound，whichneverIhadheardbefore，neithersincehaveheard(exceptduringthatsamewinter)，thesharpyetsolemnsoundoftreesburstopenbythefrost-blow。Ourgreatwalnutlostthreebranches，andhasbeendyingeversince；thoughgrowingmeanwhile，asthesouldoes。Andtheancientoakatthecrosswasrent，andmanyscoreofashtrees。ButwhyshouldI

tellallthis？thepeoplewhohavenotseenit(asI

have)willonlymakefaces，anddisbelieve；tillsuchanotherfrostcomes；whichperhapsmayneverbe。

ThisterribleweatherkeptTomFaggusfromcomingnearourhouseforweeks；atwhichindeedIwasnotvexedaquartersomuchasAnniewas；forIhadneverhalfapprovedofhim，asahusbandformysister；inspiteofhispurchasefromSquireBassett，andthegrantoftheRoyalpardon。Itmaybe，however，thatAnnietookthesameviewofmyloveforLorna，andcouldnotaugurwellofit；butifso，sheheldherpeace，thoughIwasnotsosparing。Formanythingscontributedtomakemelessgood-humourednowthanmyrealnaturewas；andtheveryleastofallthesethingswouldhavebeenenoughtomakesomepeoplecross，andrude，andfractious。Imeantheredandpainfulchappingofmyfaceandhands，fromworkinginthesnowallday，andlyinginthefrostallnight。Forbeingofafaircomplexion，andaruddynature，andprettyplumpwithal，andfedonplentyofhotvictuals，andalwaysforcedbymymothertositnearerthefirethanI

wished，itwaswonderfultoseehowthecoldranrevelonmycheeksandknuckles。AndIfearedthatLorna(ifitshouldeverpleaseGodtostopthesnowing)mighttakethisforaproofoflowandrusticbloodandbreeding。

AndthisIsaywasthesmallestthing；foritwasfarmoreseriousthatwewerelosinghalfourstock，doallwewouldtoshelterthem。Eventhehorsesinthestables(musteredalltogetherforthesakeofbreathandsteaming)hadlongiciclesfromtheirmuzzles，almosteverymorning。Butofallthingstheverygravest，tomyapprehension，wastheimpossibilityofhearing，orhavinganytokenoforfrommylovedone。

Notthatthosethreedaysaloneofsnow(tremendousasitwas)couldhaveblockedthecountryso；butthattheskyhadneverceased，formorethantwodaysatatime，forfullthreeweeksthereafter，topourfreshpilesoffleecymantle；neitherhadthewindrelaxedasingledayfromshakingthem。Asarule，itsnowedallday，clearedupatnight，andfrozeintensely，withthestarsasbrightasjewels，earthspreadoutinlustroustwilight，andthesoundsintheairassharpandcracklingasartillery；theninthemorning，snowagain；befor