COMMUTER'S WIFE 173 



started down the long walk to the path through the 

 wood lot. 



The dogs were wild with excitement which they 

 expressed in different ways. Pat alternately tiptoed 

 along and made bounds into the air. The hounds, 

 to whom snow was a novelty, pawed and played 

 with it, took great mouthfuls, then rolled and finally, 

 when exhausted, sat down to rest, only to jump up 

 again, surprised and disappointed at the inhospitable 

 coldness under them. Lark started off, nose to 

 ground, trying to unravel the crossed trails of many 

 rabbits who, evidently surprised by the storm in 

 their daytime forms on the wood edge, had thrown 

 precaution aside and hurried helter-skelter to their 

 holes. Bluff alone stayed close beside me, sniffing 

 and glancing about apprehensively, his tail held close 

 and motionless. 



There was a great flocking of such birds as live 

 with us at this season, and much chattering and com- 

 motion. Jays and nut-hatches were hurrying in 

 from the oak woods to the shelter of the evergreens, 

 robins sat in rows, humped and sullen, among the 

 cedars. I could hear the plaintive voices of invisible 

 bluebirds, various sparrow calls, the notes of cross- 

 bill and goldfinch, while the occasional " keo-keo " of 

 a distant red-tailed hawk made me feel that strange 



