A JANUARY FROST 



"For all the frosty nights that I have watched." 



— Titus Andronicus. 



There was no mistake about the signs on that 

 bright December night when you rode your old 

 favourite home — limping a little bit as you are 

 willing to confess now that the heat has gone 

 out of the leg and it is cool and fine as silk 

 again — after " The best run I ever saw in my 

 life, sir," as you have told all your friends time 

 without count during the last few days. The 

 frost set in sharply, and on the morning after 

 the gallop the ground was like adamant, and the 

 gentle but very cold wind which curled up the 

 few leaves spoke mischief. On the second day 

 fell a few flakes of snow ; on the third morning 

 there was a cover of a couple of inches, upon 

 which the pale winter sun made no impression 

 at all. 



So far you are pleased with the temporary 

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