第24部分(第1/7 頁)

Of　course　one　ought　to　be　able　to　breast　weather　such　as　this　of　to…　day；　and　to　find　one's　pleasure　in　the　strife　with　it。　For　the　man　sound　in　body　and　serene　of　mind　there　is　no　such　thing　as　bad　weather；　every　sky　has　its　beauty；　and　storms　which　whip　the　blood　do　but　make　it　pulse　more　vigorously。　I　remember　the　time　when　I　would　have　set　out　with　gusto　for　a　tramp　along　the　wind…swept　and　rain…beaten　roads；　nowadays；　I　should　perhaps　pay　for　the　experiment　with　my　life。　All　the　more　do　I　prize　the　shelter　of　these　good　walls；　the　honest　workmanship　which　makes　my　doors　and　windows　proof　against　the　assailing　blast。　In　all　England；　the　land　of　fort；　there　is　no　room　more　fortable　than　this　in　which　I　sit。　fortable　in　the　good　old　sense　of　the　word；　giving　solace　to　the　mind　no　less　than　ease　to　the　body。　And　never　does　it　look　more　homely；　more　a　refuge　and　a　sanctuary；　than　on　winter　nights。

In　my　first　winter　here；　I　tried　fires　of　wood；　having　had　my　hearth　arranged　for　the　purpose；　but　that　was　a　mistake。　One　cannot　burn　logs　successfully　in　a　small　room；　either　the　fire；　being　kept　moderate；　needs　constant　attention；　or　its　triumphant　blaze　makes　the　room　too　hot。　A　fire　is　a　delightful　thing；　a　panion　and　an　inspiration。　If　my　room　were　kept　warm　by　some　wretched　modern　contrivance　of　water…pipes　or　heated　air；　would　it　be　the　same　to　me　as　that　beautiful　core　of　glowing　fuel；　which；　if　I　sit　and　gaze　into　it；　bees　a　world　of　wonders？　Let　science　warm　the　heaven…　forsaken　inhabitants　of　flats　and　hotels　as　effectually　and　economically　as　it　may；　if　the　choice　were　forced　upon　me；　I　had　rather　sit；　like　an　Italian；　wrapped　in　my　mantle；　softly　stirring　with　a　key　the　silver…grey　surface　of　the　brasier's　charcoal。　They　tell　me　we　are　burning　all　our