Запретный лес
XV. Hallowmass
Thenight’sthetime,whenwecanstepacrossandcollogueatourease."
TohavethesoldieratCrossbasketgavealifttoDavid’sspirit.Butatfirsthesawhimrarely,foritwaswisetoletthemansettledownintheplacebeforeappearinginhiscompany,lestpeopleshouldsuspectapreviousfriendship.MarkRiddelappearedtobeforeveronthemove,andtheministermethimoftenestontheRoodroad--generallyintheearlydarkness.ItpleasedhimtothinkthathisneighbourwasvisitingCalidon,foritseemedtobringKatrinenearer.Buthemadenoefforttoseethegirlhimself.WiththefalloftheleaftheseasonforParadisehadgone,andhecouldnotseekherathometillhehadunravelledthetangleofhisownperplexities.
ThechiefofthemwastheapproachofHallowmass.HewasdeterminednotforonemomenttoforgohischargeagainstChasehopeandhiscoven,whateverthecounter-chargeagainsthimselfmightbe,andifnecessarytogoinpersonagaintotheWood.Buthischiefally,Reiverslaw,spenthisdaysdrinkingsoddenlyintheclachan,andwhenhesoughthimoutattheale-househegotnothingbutfuddledlaughter.Thenonemorninghefoundhimonthehill,andapparentlyinabettermind.
"Myran-danisbye,"saidReiverslawsullenly."Ye’vecausetoupbraidme,sir,andnowordso’yourscanbewaurthanwhatIgiemysel’.It’sapttotakemethatwayatthistimeo’year,andIthinkblackburnin’shamethatIshouldbesaethirledtothefautso’theflesh--drinkinglikeaswineinastyeamongfolkthat,whensober,Iwadnatouchwi’agraip’send.
