Запретный лес

           Hefeltthathecouldbringhersafelythroughragingriversandacrossmountainsofstone,thatforherhecouldscaletheairandploughthehills,thatnothingwasimpossiblewhichshecommanded.Theytwocouldmakeoftheworldasongandarapture.Sodeepwashistransportthathescarcelyheardhervoicewhenshespoke.

           "Ihavebeenhearingofyourtroubles,Mr.David.HewhomwemustcallMarkRiddelhastoldme."

           "Ihavenotroubles,"hecried."NowthatIseeyoutheworldisaltogethergood."

           "WillyoutellthattothePresbytery?"sheasked,laughing.

           "Iwilltellittothebroadearth--ifyougivemeleave."

           Amomentaryconfusioncameoverher.Sheslightlycheckedherhorse,andasthegroundshelvedthebeaststumbled.TheslipbroughtherincontactwithDavid’sshoulder,andbeforesheknewhishandwaslaidonhers.

           "Oh,mydear,mydear,"hecried."Katrine,Imustsayit...Iamdaftforloveofyou....SinceIfirstsawyoudowninthegreenwoodyourtwoeyeshavebeensunandmoontome.Yourface--Godforgiveme--comesbetweenmeandtheWord.TherearetimeswhenIcannotprayforthinkingofyou....It’snothingIaskofyou,Katrine,butjustleavetotellyou.Whatwasityoursongsaid?--’There’snaneformebutyou,mylove’--andoh!it’sthegospeltruth."

           Shedidnotreply,butherhanddidnotmoveunderhis.TheyweredescendingthehilltowardsRood,andthefoghadgrownsothickthateachtotheotherwasonlyashadow.Beforeithadenclosedtheminavisibleencirclement;nowitseemedtohavecreptsonearthatitdislimnedtheoutlinesofhorseandrider