3 io AUTUMN AND WINTER 



and three days in the year, but at no time except in July is it 

 more regular than at the opening of the year. It becomes 

 almost a trade wind, and makes its way to the north-east for 

 just such a reason as the Trades make towards the equator. 

 But this south-west wind is more prevalent for some reason 

 along our western border than elsewhere. There is indeed a 

 little pocket represented by the Eastern Counties where the 

 winds behave rather differently, have a different period of pre- 

 valence. Once again the east and west ' and never the 

 twain do meet ' are sharply divided. A low glass or period 

 of low pressure always portends the south-west wind. With 

 the first symptoms of a shift to north or east the glass rises 

 with extreme rapidity, whether it is going to be fine or not. 

 It is neglect to notice these qualities in the two winds that 

 prevents many people from reading the barometer, out of 

 which the most amateur prophet may extract daily interest. 

 After a warm and charming day of early spring, which 

 has brought us out into the garden to marvel at premature 

 events : the humming of bees, the long catkins on the hazel, 

 the flowering periwinkle, the buds on the gooseberry, the 

 spring song of the tit, perhaps the appearance of a queen 

 wasp or hibernated butterfly after such a day as this, when 

 the glass ought, it is often held, to acknowledge the fairness, 

 you will see the mercury which was low mount and mount. 

 The next day you believe will surely be something more 

 perfect still r extravagance du parfait. The hope is rarely 

 fulfilled. It is not unlikely that you wake to the rattle 

 of a hailstorm, and are aware of the chill of very winter 

 in the air. 



One cannot exaggerate the infinite variety of England, 

 its unexpectedness, the quick contrasts. There are no two 

 counties which can be called similar. Huntingdon, one of 

 the very smallest and in general regard almost the least 



