January 26 + 

Out of doors today it’s like the roaring forties! Every tree I passed in the lane was a great wind instrument, bellowing out a passionate song, and the sky was torn to ribbons. It is cold enough to freeze the nose off a brass Monkey, but very exhilarating. I stood on the hill and squared my fists to the wind and bade everything come on. I sit writing this by the fire and am thoroughly scourged and purified by this great castigating wind.⁠ ⁠… I think I will stick it out⁠—I will sit quite still in my chair and defy this skulking footpad⁠—let the paralysis creep into every bone, I will hang on to the last and watch it skulking with my most hideous grimace. + 