XV 

 BY THE STUDY FIRE 



IT is not given to all middle-aged folk, 

 still less to those of " present-day " 

 maturity (age not specified), to welcome the 

 wild north-easter of winter or to take more 

 than a vicarious interest in its lashing the 

 hungry pike into madness. Such delights are 

 seldom the perquisite of any who have spent 

 forty years of life in all climates, and feel the 

 results during the rapid changes of weather of 

 England in the winter months. To such folk 

 many of the consolations of life must be found 

 during part of November, all December and 

 most of January, by the study fire, or from 

 what can be seen out of the windows. I am 

 lucky myself in having windows both east and 

 west, and generally there is something to be 

 seen therefrom. From the writing-table there 

 is a view of a magnificent old horse-chestnut- 

 tree, now naked and leafless, showing its 

 beautiful proportions in black silhouette against 



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