Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
ThetruthwasthatnocommandsofMark,noprotestationsofDavid,couldkeepKatrineoutofthevillage.Shesawthereasonfornotappearinginthedaylight,forastrangerinWoodilee--aboveallsuchastrangerasshe--wouldhavebeentoomuchforthebrittlenervesoftheparish.Butafternightfallthecasewasdifferent,andwhenwithDavidshehadoncestoodbythebedofasickchild,nothingcouldpreventhermakinganightlydutyofit.Intothosesodden,woefulhouseholdssheenteredlikeaspringwind;thepeoplemayhavemarvelled,buttheywerestilltooapathetictoaskquestions,andtheyfeltdumblyhercurativepower.Amongunkemptpallidmenandfrowsywild-eyedwomenthefacebrightwiththeweather,thecurlsdabbledwithrain,thecoolfirmarm,thealertfigure,workedamiracle,asifanangelhadtroubledthestagnantwatersoftheirlife.Herhandonachild’shotbrowsentitintoapeacefulsleep;herpresencegavetothesickthewilltoliveandtothefearfulagleamofcourage.Whattheythoughtandsaidwhenshehadgonewillneverbeknown,butforcertaintheylongedforhercomingagain.
Onthe18thdayofFebruarythepestilencetookitslastvictim--anoldwoman,themotheroftheWindywaysherd,andtheearthwasstillfreshonhergravewhentherainceased.Thewindswungtothenorth,andtheblackfrostforwhichDavidhadlongedsettledontheland.Itputanendtothepest,butitborehardontheconvalescent,andtheolderandfeeblerdiedunderitsrigour.
