Запретный лес
VI. The Black Wood by Night
InaworldwhichGodhadmadesofairandclean,therecouldbenosininanythingthatwasalsofairandinnocent.
ThesunhadsetbeyondHerstaneCraigbeforeheturnedhissteps.NowfromthehilltopshehadMelanudrigillbeforehim,adistantshadowinthetroughofthevalley.SincethatafternooninParadiseaweoftheWoodhadlefthim.HehadbeenamongitspinesandhadfoundKatrinethere.Hewatchedthecloudoftrees,growingnearerateachstep,asearlierthatdayhehadwatchedtheenvironsofCalidon.Itwasherhaunt;haplyshemightnowbethere,singinginthescentedtwilight?
WhenhestoodaboveReiverslawtheduskwaspurpleabouthim,andthemoon,almostatherfull,wasclimbingthesky.HelongedtoseehowParadiselookedinthiselfinlight,forhehadapremonitionthatthegirlmighthavelingeredtherelateandthathewouldmeether.Therewasnodutytotakehimhome--nothingbutIsobel’ssillyfables.ButindeferencetoIsobelhetooktheomens.Hesenthisstafftwirlingintotheair.Ifitfellwiththecrooktowardshim,hewouldgohome.Thethinglightedinaheatherbushwiththecrookatthefarend.Soheplungeddownhillamongthehazels,makingforthegladewhichslantedeastwardtowardsthedesertedmill.
Hefoundit,anditwasverydarkinthatnarrowplace.Therewasnolighttoseetheflowersby,andtherewasnocolourinit,onlyadimpurplegloomandthewhiteofthefallingstream,forthemoonwasstilltoolowintheheavenstoreachit.
Intimehecametothehighbankwherethepinesbegan.HewaslookingforParadise,buthecouldnotfindit.
