Запретный лес

           "I’massnughereasawinterbadger,"saidKerrcontentedly."Ilacknoughtbutapipeoftobacco,andthatImustwhistlefor,seeingthatIleftmyspleuchanatPhiliphaugh....Mistress,you’vetheknackofanoldcampaigner.Youmighthavebeenatthewars."

           "Themenofmyracehavealwaysbeenatthewars,andthewomenhavealwaysdreamedofthem,"shesaid,andonhisforeheadshekissedhimgood-night.

           DavidLesliecametoWoodileeinthemorning,butdidnothalt,pushingontoLanarkintheafternoon.Hisarmywasinlessofahurry,andthreetroop-captainsmadetheirbedsinthemanse,whiletheministersleptonhisstudyfloor.Theywerecivilenough,cadetsofsmallhousesinFife,whohadhadtheirtraininginarmsabroad,andcaredaslittleforthecausetheyfoughtforasanymercenaryofTilly’s.Withintwodaystheneighbourhoodwasclearofsoldiery,saveforthegarrisonsleftasearth-stoppersathouseslikeCalidon,whichmightbetherefugeofmalignants.

           ForaweekMarkKerrlayintherecessesofMelanudrigill,andforDavidthedayspassedlikeaseraphicvision.EverynightafterthedarkeninghemetKatrineinParadise,andthetwocarriedtotherefugeehisdailyprovender--eggsandmilk,alefromtheCalidonbuttery,cakeswhichwereMistressGrizel’s,cheesewhichwasIsobel’s.ForDavidthespelloftheWoodhadgone.Helookedonitnowasamandoesathisfamiliarbedroomwhenhewakesfromanightmare,unabletoreconstructthesceneofhisterrors.