Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
NonedareleaveorenterWoodilee.Oneafternoon,inamoodofdespair,heclimbedtheHillofDeerforaglimpseoftheouterworld.TherelayCalidononitswindybraes,butCalidonwasnowasdistantforhimasthemoon.Therelaythehillsinwhosespaciouswildernessesnopestlurked,fortherewerenouncleanmortalstoharbourit,andbeyondthemwastheworldwheremenmightliveindaylightandhonour.AshelookeddownonWoodileeahazeseemedtolieoverit.Wasittheeffluviaoftheplague,amiasmawhichwalleditroundmoreimpenetrablythanstonewallsandironshutters?...Hestruggledtoconquerhisshrinking."Faithlessservant,"hetoldhimself,"faithlessevenoverafewthings!DavidSempill,yourebelagainsttheLord’swillnotbecauseofthesufferingsofyourpoorfolk,butbecauseofyourownpitiablediscomfort.Thinkshame,man,tobesuchawhingeingbairn."ForhehadrealizedthattherootofhistroublewasthathewasseveredfromKatrine.
ButthateveningKatrinecametohim.
Whilehesatforalittleinhisstudybeforestartingonhismelancholyvisits,heheardIsobel’svoicebelowhigh-pitchedinexcitement.Thenheheardanothervoicewhichtookhimdownthestairsthreestepsatatime.Thegirl,bootedashehadseenherinthemistontheeveofHallowmass,stoodinthelightofIsobel’scandle,oneglovedhandraisedinprotestandwithanembarrassedsmileatherlipsandeyes.ToDaviditseemedthefirstsmilethathehadseenforaneternity.
"Awa’hamewi’ye,myleddy,"Isobelcried.
