Запретный лес
VII. The First Blast
Therewasnohopefromthewindow,whichwasasmallsquarethroughwhichachildcouldnothavecrept.
Furtherattacksonthedoorfollowed,andfutileshouting.BythetimethelatelighthadfadedfromthelittlewindowDavidhadacknowledgedthefactthathewasimprisoned,andhisfirstfuryhadebbedfromsheerbodilyfatigue.Buttheclockhadstruckonebeforeheattemptedtomakeabedonthefloor,withforpillowabagofchaffwhichIsobelhadplacedthereforawinterfootstool,andthedawnwasintheeasternskybeforeheslept.
HewasawakenedbyIsobelinthedoorway.
"Peetyonus,"shewailed,"thatsicathingsuldhaecometothishoose!Haeyespentthenichtinthiscauldchamberandnoinyourbed?Thewyte’s[blame]onme,forIgotAmosRitchieyestereentoputabaronthedoor,forthere’swalthofguidbookshereandIwadliketosteektheplacewhenye’reawa’tothehillsandmemaybeinthekitchen.Imaunhaesteekitittoseeifitwadwark,nokennin’yewereininside.AndsyneIgaeddountomygude-brither’stospeirafterhisbairn,andIwaslateingettingback,and,thinksI,theministerwillbeinhisbedandI’llawa’tomine.Puirman,ye’llbeasstiffasawand,andye’llmaybehaegotyourdeatho’cauld....SeeandI’llgetyeahetdrink,andyourparritch’sontheboil....Wae’smethatIdidn’tak’athocht..."
"Silence,woman,anddonotcumberyoursoulwithlies."David’swhitefaceashestrodefromtheroomdidmorethanhiswordstocutshortIsobel’slaments.
