Запретный лес
VII. The First Blast
Theeventsofthenightbeforereturnedtohimonlytooclearly.HerememberedhisexaltationintheWood--theglade,thealtar.Herecalledwithabasementhispanicandhisflight.Thegladeagain,thepiping,theobscenedance--andatthatmemoryhehadalmoststaggeredfromhisbed.Hefeltagaintheblindhorrorandwrathwhichhadhurledhimintotheinfernalthrong.
Isobel’sanxiousfaceappearedinthedoorway.
"Ye’vehadagraundsleep,sir.Andnowye’llbeforabiteo’meat?"
"Ihavesleptwell,andIamwellenoughinbody.Sityoudown,IsobelVeitch,forIhavemuchtosaytoyou.HowcameIhomelastnight?"
Thewomansatdownontheedgeofachair,andeveninthetwilighthernervousnesswasmanifest.
"Itwasnalastnicht.Itwasabootthehouro’threethismornin’,andsicanichtasIhadwaitin’onye!Oh,sir,whatgarredyenohearkentomeandgangtotheWudonRood-Mass?"
"HowdoyouknowIwasintheWood?"
Shedidnotanswer.
"Tellme,"hesaid,"howIcamehome."
"Iwasryngin’thehooselikealostyowe,butIdidnadaurgangoutbye.AttwalhoursItookalookuptheroad,andagainwhentheknockwaschappin’twa.SyneIdozedoffinmychair,tilltheknockwaukenedme.Thatwasatthreehours,andasIwaukenedIheardstepsoutbye.Ikeekitooto’thewindy,buttherewasnaebodyontheroad,justtheyellowmune.IprayedtotheLordtostrengthenme,andby-and-byIventuredout,butIfandnaething.SyneItookathochttotrythebackyaird,andmyhertgiedastound,fortherewasyoursel’,Mr.David,lyin’likeacauldcorpaneaththeaippletree.
