Запретный лес
XI. The Minister Girds up his Loins
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"Didyoufindwhatyousought?"Davidasked.
"Ifandeneuch."Hedrewfromapocketabunchoffeathers."IgottheselastnichtintheWud.Doubtlessthere’llbemairinthesameplace,iftheyhavenabeensoopitup.Butthere’snaeredcockthedayinthetouno’Chasehope.Iadmiredthewife’shensandspeiredwhathadbecomeo’thecock,andwastelledthatitwasdeid--chokitlastnichtonagrosart.Ikenthekindo’grosartthatendedthepuirbeast."
"Andtheaniseed?"
Reiverslawlaughedtipsily.
"Wewerejustintime,sir.Thewifehadafirelowin’intheyaird.’What’sburnin’,mistress?’saysI.’Justsomeauldclouts,’saysshe.’Therewasagangrelbodysleepitaenichtintheloft,’saysshe,’andheleftsomedudsahinthim,asfu’o’fleasasacadger’sbonnet.I’mhaein’thembrunt,’saysshe,’forfearo’theweans.’Weel,meandRichieandRabstoodasidethefire,anditloupitasifanoilcanhadbeenskailedonit,andthereekthatrasefraeitwasjustthereeko’myweebottle.Mairnorthat,therewasaqueersmellayontthehallin--RichieandRabfanditasweelasme.Whatnamewadyegieit,Rab?"
"Itwasthestinko’thestuffyeshowedusinthishouselastnicht,"saidPrenticesolemnly.
"Saemuckleforthat,"saidReiverslaw."We’veproofthattheladinthedowg’scapwasnaeitherthanhimwekeno’.Na,na,Ineverletontothewife.Iwasjokesomeanddaffin’wi’her,andmadeagreatcracko’thetups,andpraiseda’Isawaboutthetoun,andRabandRichiewereaswiseasjudges.
