Запретный лес
XIII. White Magic
Insuchaframeofmindhemayhavegrowncareless,forhedidnotseewhatIsobelsaw.Hishousekeeper,briskwiththeconsciousnessofapartnershipwithhermasterinthingsunlawfulandperilous,andundertheglamourofKatrine’sgentriceandbeauty,wasasunquietasahenwithabroodofyoungducksonthepond’sedge.Shecluckedandfussed,andwaitedforDavid’sreturninananxioustempest."There’squeerongaein’sinthisbit,"shetoldhim."WhenIhearkeninthesma’hoursIhearfeettrailin’assaftasatod’s[fox],andwhilesahoast[cough]oragant[yawn]whichnevercam’fraeatod’smouth.Andyestreenwhenyesetout,sir,therewassomethingslippedatweenthebirksandthewa’andfollowed.Iwishitmaynabeyourdeidwraith."Hepooh-poohedherfears,butonthelastnight,whenhepartedfromKatrineinParadise,andaccordingtohiscustomwatchedherfigureas,faintinthemoonlight,itcrossedafieldofbrackenaboveRood,hesawsomethingmoveparalleltoherinthefern.Onhiswayhome,too,ashepassedthekirktonroadinthefirstlight,therewasarustlingamongtheelders,andadivotfellmysteriouslyfromtheturfdyke.
