Запретный лес
XVII. Woodilee and Calidon
Anotherrecalled"saxteenfifteen,namedtheLownYear,whentherewasnaefrost,andablighto’wormsandcawterpillarsandhairyobjectsfellontheland."Andeverywifeintheparish,whenatChristmasthegrasswasstillrankandhigh,andhipsandhawsstillhungonthebushes,quoteddolefullythesawthat"agreenYulemakesafatkirkyard."
Butiftherewasapresageofcalamityinitforthethoughtful,itwasweatherofararebeautyforthosewhohadthehearttoenjoyit.Therewasnosicknessintheparishandasyetnohunger,soDavid’spastoraldutieswerelight.Hewasontheuplandsmostoftheday,andnowhisfeettookhimawayfromtheHillofDeerandthenorthridgeofRoodandacrosstheglentothehillsbetweenCalidonandAller,fortherehecouldmeetKatrinewithnofearofinterferingparishioners.ThegarrisonhadbeenwithdrawnfromCalidon,sinceNicholaswasknowntobeoutofthecountryandMistressSaintserfwasregardedaswellaffected,butDaviddidnotgothere.Solongastheshortafternoonswerecrystalunderacanopyofblue,andthesunsetbehindHerstaneCraigingoldandcrimson,theplaceforloverswasthehill,fortheretheworldwasnarrowedtothemselves.
Buttheminister’sconsciencesmotehimatlast,andonNewYear’smorninghepresentedhimselfatCalidondoor.ByarrangementKatrinewasnotthere,andfromheraunthegotthetempestuouswelcomewhichcustomordainedasappropriatetotheseason.
"Sityedown,sir,andprieourshortcakeandOctober.
