Had I been awake only an hour?
It seemed incredible.

Getting up on tiptoe, vaguely afraid myself of breaking the silence, I noiselessly pushed aside the heavy curtains and looked out.
The moon had set, but by the frosty starlight the outline of the great snow-laden trees and the wide sweep of white drive were still dimly visible.

All was silent without as within.

Not a branch moved or let fall its freight of snow.

There was not a breath of wind stirring.