Запретный лес

           Ihaenaegreatbrooo’them.They’llmaybedaeonyongreenbraeswherethebiteisshort,butthey’renaeuseforaheathercountry....Sityedoun,sir.Whatbringsyesaefarowerthetops?Yewerenaettlin’togiemeaca’inatReiverslaw?"

           Davidgladlystretchedhimselfonthebentbesidehim.Themanseemedwillingtotalk,andoflatehehadhadlittlespeechwithhisfellows.

           "Icamehereforthecallerair,"hesaid,"andtodriveillhumoursfrombodyandmind.TherearewhileswhenIcannotdrawbreathinWoodilee."

           "Ay,"saidtheman."Ay!Justso."Hepursedhislipsandlookedattheministerunderhalf-shuteyes.

           "Wereyouborninthisparish?"Davidasked.

           "Na,na.Farfraethat.I’mbutanincomer,thoughI’vehadthetacko’Reiverslawforadizzenyears.Myfather,honestman,wasfraetheGlenkens,andmymithercam’fraetheCairnside.Iwasbornatabittheyca’Dunscore,butIwasastirrin’ladinmyyoungdaysandI’vetraivelledthefecko’theLawlands,fraetheForthtotheSolway.ButnowI’vegotmyhinderlandsdouninWoodilee,andit’slikeI’lllaymybaneshere."

           Themanspokeinadifferentvoicefromthepeopleoftheplace,andtoDavidheseemedasonedetachedfromthecountryside,sharingneitheritsinterestsnoraffections.Ashelookedathim,sprawlingintheheatherbushwithonefootonhishorse’sbridle,hehadasenseofsomethingassuredandresoluteandnotunfriendly.

           "Ye’reanincomerlikemysel’,sir,"Reiverslawsaidafterapause.