As long as the footing is good, one can get on even in the face of a northerly storm; but to heave with a shifting fulcrum is hard.

Nevertheless Cosmo, beholding with his mind's eye the wide waste around him, rejoiced; invisible through the snow, it was not the less a presence, and his young heart rushed to the contest.

There was no fear of ghosts in such a storm! The ghosts might be there, but there was no time to heed them, and that was as good as their absence--perhaps better, if we knew all.
"Bide a wee, Cosmo," cried Agnes, and leaving him in the middle of the street where they were walking, she ran across to one of the houses, and entered--lifting the latch without ceremony.

No neighbour troubled another to come and open the door; if there was no one at home, the key in the lock outside showed it.
Cosmo turned his back to the wind, and stood waiting.

From the door which Aggie opened, came through the wind and snow the sound of the shoemaker's hammer on his lapstone.
"Cud ye spare the mistress for an hoor, or maybe twa an' a half, to haud Grannie company, John Nauchty ?" said Agnes.
"Weel that," answered the SUTOR, hammering away.