The strange white world lay stroked by silence. No birds sang. The garden was no longer there, in this forested land. Nor were the out-buildings nor the old crumbling walls. There lay only a narrow clearing round the house now, hummocked with unbroken snowdrifts, before the trees began, with a narrow path leading away.
The scene described is one of profound stillness and desolation, where an eerie silence permeates the environment. The vibrant life of the garden has vanished, along with the familiar structures that once occupied the landscape. Instead, a soft blanket of snow now covers everything, transforming the surroundings into an empty, white expanse.
This transformation highlights the stark contrast between what once existed and the current state of abandonment. The only remnant of the familiar is a small clearing around the house, with a narrow pathway hinting at a connection to the outside world, yet shrouded in a sense of isolation amidst the towering trees that loom beyond.