ly and flushing the snow with delicate5 pinks。 The dining room window had been transformed into a lovely Japanese print。 The little plum…tree outside； with the faintly flushed snow lining its boughs and artfully disposed along its trunk； stood in full sunlight。 An hour or two later everything was a cold glitter of white and blue。 The world had pletely changed again。 The little Japanese prints had all vanished。 I looked out of my study window； over the garden； the meadow； to the low hills beyond； and the ground was one long glare； the sky was steely； and all the trees so many black and sinister shapes。 There was indeed something curiously sinister about the whole prospect。 It was as if our kindly country…side； close to the very heart of England； had been turned into a cruel steppe。 At any moment； it seemed； a body of horsemen might be seen breaking out from the black copse； so many instruments of tyranny might be heard and some distant patch of snow be reddened。 It was that kind of landscape。
Now it has changed again。 The glare has gone and no touch of the sinister remains。 But the snow is falling heavily； in great soft flakes； so that you can hardly see across the shallow valley； and the roofs are thick and the trees all bending； and the weathercock of the village church； still to be seen through the grey loaded air； has bee some creature out of Hans Andersen。 From my study； which is part from the house and faces it； I can see the children flattening their noses agains