Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
Iknowwhatprecautionstotake,forIhaveheardwisemendiscussthem,butyouinWoodilee,fromallIhear,arenobetterthanfrightenedbairns."
"Butyouraunt--MistressSaintserf--"
"AuntGrizelknowsofmycoming.Shehasgivenmethispomanderofspices."Shetouchedatrinketwhichhungfromherneckbyagoldchain.
Davidstruggledtosalvehisconsciencebyenergyindissuasion,andthoughhisheartcriedforherpresence,itwastorn,too,byfearforhersafety.Hecommanded,pled,expostulated,butsheonlyturnedasmilingface.Shesatdownbeforethepeatfireandstretchedoutherfeettothehotashes.
"Youwillnotdrivemeaway,David,"shesaid."Wouldyouforbidmefromaworkofnecessityandmercy--andyouaminister?"
Intheendhegaveupthetask,forherewasaresolutionstifferthanhisown,andhisstrongestargumentsfalteredwhenhesawhersmile,whichwaslikesunlightinaworldofdarknessandgrimfaces.Hefoundhimselftellingherhowtheplaguehadbegun,andofthenatureofitscourse--thelackofleechesandmedicines,thedearthofhelpers,thehouseholdsperishingsilentlyindoors.Shelistenedcalmly,anddidnotblanchevenatthetaleoftheshutteredcottagesandtheunburieddead.
"Aprettymessyourfolkhavemadeofit,"shesaid."YouhaveturnedWoodileeintoalazar-house,andgiventhepestararebreeding-ground.Nevermindyourspiritualconsolations,David.Letthemiserablebodiescomebeforethesouls.Yousayyouhavenoleechtocurethesick,andthatmaybeisaswell,forIneveryetheardofleechthatcouldmastertheplague.
