Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
Itsbrew-houseanditsgirnel,itsstillroomanditscellars,nottospeakofMistressGrizel’sprivatecordials,wereplunderedforthesakeofaparishwhichMistressGrizelcouldnotrefertowithoutasourgrimace.WhenKatrinerodetothemanseofanightshewouldbringwithherusuallyaladenshelty.
TheendoftheplaguewasforDavidaharderseasoneventhanitsheight.ForwithconvalescenceWoodileeseemedtoloseitswits.Beforeithadsatdazedandbrokenundertherod;nowitwoketoanardourofself-preservation.Atthebeginningthepeopleseemedtobecarelessofinfection;nowthesurvivorswerepossessedwithacrazetolive,andfoughtliketerrifiedanimalstogetoutofdanger.Theycouldnotleavetheparishbounds,butthosethatwereablefledfromthevillage.Theleakysheilingsonthehills,occupiedbytheewe-milkersduringtheheightofsummer,gavelodgingtomany,andseveraldiedthereoftheviolenceofthefrost.Theoutlyingfarmswerebelievedtobethesafer,soMirehopeandNetherFennanhadmanyundesiredtenantsintheirouthouses.Theresultwasthat,inaseasonofconvalescence,whennursingwasespeciallyneeded,thebedriddenwereoftenleftdeserted.Davidtriedtoenlistmenandwomenwhohadeitherescapedtheplagueorhadbeenforsomeweeksrecovered,buthegotonlyfiercedenialsoranobstinatesilence.Theplacehadbecomebrutish,andtheselfishnessofbeastsseemedtohavebecometheruleoflife.
TheoneexceptionwasChasehope.
