Запретный лес

           I’mnobetterthanthebeaststhatperish.ButI’vefandoutaethinginthesehumblin’days.There’llbenaeWudatHallowmass.Thefolkwekeno’dinnafancytheWudaincetheLammasisbye,andit’stheclachanitsel’thatwillseetheirnextcantrips."

           "Butthereisnoplacethatcouldcontainthem--"Davidbegan.

           "Iken,buttheymaybefollowsomeithergait.I’llbeinthekirktonthatnicht--na,na,yeneednafearforme,I’llnogangnearthehostler-wife--theverrathochto’yillandusquebaghstaws[sickens]me.ButI’llbethere,andyoumaunbeinthemanse,andwe’llguideourgaitaccordingtowhatthenichtbringsforth.I’llwagerChasehopewillnobelongouto’mysicht,andifhemeddleswi’mehe’llfindmewaurthantheDeil’soxter....Keepawatchonyoursel’thatday,sir,forthere’smonywillwishyeouto’theclachan."

           ThelastdayofOctobercame,andDavidrosetofindthattherainhadgone,andthatoverthedrenchedhillshaddawnedamorningasbrightasApril.Hespenttheforenoonindistractedstudy,strivingtokeephismindonprintedpages,buthisrestlessnesswassuchthatafterdinneritsenthimtothemoors.HetookhisoldroadfortheRoodtops,andbythreeo’clockhadreachedthepassfromClyde,whereinJulyhehadhadhistalkwithReiverslaw.

           TheearthwassoakedwiththeOctoberrains,andasthesun’spowerdeclinedintheafternoonamistbegantocreepoutoftheglens.