The snow lay thin and apologetic over the world. That wide grey sweep was the lawn, with the straggling trees of the orchard still dark beyond; the white squares were the roofs of the garage, the old barn, the rabbit hutches, the chicken coops. Further back there were only the flat fields of Dawson's farm, dimly white-striped. All the broad sky was grey, full of more snow that refused to fall. There was no colour anywhere.
Susan CooperFunny,โ Will said, as they picked their way through. โThings are absolutely awful and yet people look much happier than usual. Look at them all. Bubbling.โ โThey are English,โ Merriman said. โQuite right,โ said Willโs father. โSplendid in adversity, tedious when safe. Never content, in fact. Weโre an odd lotโฆ.
Susan CooperSo the shortest day came, and the year died, / And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world / Came people singing, dancing, / To drive the dark away.
Susan CooperOnce upon a time... a long time ago... things that happened once perhaps but have been talked about for so long that nobody really knows. And underneath all the bits that people have added the magic swords and lamps they're all about one thing - the good hero fighting the giant or the witch or the wicked uncle. Good against bad. Good against evil.
Susan Cooper