Запретный лес
VIII. The Second Blast
Ontheedgeofthetreeswasagreatmassofdarkfoxgloves,thecolourofblood,andtheyseemedtomakeablood-trailfromthesunlightintothegloom.
Heturneduptherightbank,andthroughhazelcopsesandglades,breast-highwithbracken,hemadehiswayasifbyinstinct.Hefoundtheshallowcuplinedwithbirchesandtheblossomingrowans,andashebrushedthroughthecoverthesawthegirlsittingonthegreenswardbythewell.
Motionlesshewatchedherforalittle,whilehisheartplayedstrangepranks.Shehadabasketbesideherfullofflowers,andshewasreadinginabook....Shelaiddownthebook,andshookhercurlsanddabbledherfingersinthewater.Shesangasshedabbled,lowandclearinsnatches,asongwhichhewastoremembertohisdyingday:
"There’scomfortforthecomfortless,
Andhoneyforthebee,
Andthere’snaneformebutyou,mylove,
Andthere’snaneforyoubutme."
Shecroonedtheversetwice,brokeofftowatcharing-ouzel,andthensangagain:
"It’sloveforlovethatIhavegot,
Andloveforloveagain,
Soturnyourhighhorseheidabout
Andwewillrideforhame,mylove,
Andwewillrideforhame."
Hewouldfainhavelingeredandwatchedher,buthefeltlikeaneavesdropperonherprivacy.So"MistressKatrine!"hecriedsoftly,and"MistressKatrine"asecondtime.
Shesprangtothealertlikeabird.Herface,whenshesawhim,showednowelcome.
"Igiveyougood-day,sir,"shesaid."Haveyoumaybelostyourroad?"
"IamseekingParadise,"hereplied.
"Itisthequestofallmortals,theytellme.Buttheministerssayitisnottobefoundonearth.
