Запретный лес
IX. Before Lammas
"Trustme,Iwasdiscreet.ButI’veanamefortakin’astoupowermuckle,andwhenthefolkthochtIwasfou,mylugswereasglegasamaukin’s.They’repreparin’foranotherSabbath,anditfa’sontheLammasEve.Onthatnichtyouandmemauntak’theWud."
Davidshivered,andthemansawit.
"Thefleshisweak,"hesaid,"andI’mfeelin’likethatmysel’.Butyouan’mearenotheanestopitourhandtotheplew-stiltsandturnback.Mr.Sempill,areyeyoungenoughtospeelatree?"
"Iwasagreatclimberasaladdie."
"Weel,ye’llhaetobealaddieainceagain.AndI’lltellyemair.Ye’llhaetoleavethisplaceaforetheLammas-tide.Isthereonybityecanbideat,notabunetwentymilesfraeWoodilee?"
"ThereismycousinatNewbiggin."
"Weel,toNewbigginyegang,andyourdeparturemaunbepublic.Crackaboutitfordaysafore.Telltheauldwifeatthemanseanddeaveherwi’yourpreparations.For,ifyou’renoooto’theparishinguidtime,ye’llbelockitinyourchamber,asyewereonthesecondBeltane.AndyemaunbeintheWudthatnichtasawitness,forthere’sjustustwasome,youandme,andwemaunbewitnessesthatthePresbyteryandtheSheriffandtheLordsinEmbrocannotdeny."
"Iseethat.ButhaveyoufoundoutnothingmoreinWoodilee?"
"I’vegottenahantleo’suspeecions.Man,ye’dwondertoseehowchiefmeandChasehopearethesedays.I’vebeenowertoseehisEnglishbull,andI’veta’enhisadviceaboutsheep,andI’vesell’thimascoreo’gimmersatapricethatmademevoamit.
