Запретный лес
XV. Hallowmass
Hewouldswinghisstickasifitwereaflail."Snedthem,sir,"hewouldcry,"snedthemlikethristles."
ButthecomfortoftheatmosphereinwhichhenowmovedwasmarredforDavidbytheconductofReiverslaw.ThatworthyhadbeenabsentinNithsdalewhenPhiliphaughwasfought,anddidnotreturntilltheweekafterthebattle.Itwouldseemthatthegenerallossofstockduetothedisturbanceshadbenefitedhispocket;hehadsoldhishog-lambstoadvantage,andhadhadaprosperousdealinblackcattlewithLeslie’squartermaster.BythemiddleofOctobertheworkonthehillfarmswasallbutoverfortheyear,andReiverslawwasaleisuredman.WhetherthecausewasthenewaccessofwealthortheexcitementsofLammas,hefellintoevilcourses.Therewaswordofbrawlsinale-housesasfarapartasLanarkandKirkAller,andhewouldliefordaysinLuckyWeir’s,sleepingoffpotations,onlytorenewtheminthemorning.Hislanguagecoarsened,histonguegrewmoreunbridled,hisaptitudeforquarrelsincreasedtillhebecameanuisanceinthevillageandapublicscandal."Abonnyfriendye’vegotteninAndraShillinglaw,"Isobelsaidbitterly."ForthreedayshehasbeenasfouastheBaltic,andcursin’likeacorneto’horse."Davidmadeseveralattemptstoreasonwithhim,penetratingtothebackpartsoftheale-house,butgotnoreplybuttipsylaughterandowlishadmonitions.Itlookedillforthecreditofhisprincipalwitness.
ThecallofCalidonwasalwaysinhisears,buthedidnotyieldtoit.Octoberbroughtafortnightofdrenchingrains,andKatrinecamenomoretoParadise.
