Запретный лес
XVIII. The Plague
Duringtheworstweekstheclachanhadhadnonewsofhim,butitwasrumouredthathehadmadeafortressofhisfarm-town,andhadassiduouslytendedhisownpeople.AtanyrateatChasehopetherehadbeenonlyonedeath.Nowheappearedinthestreet,andtoDavid’samazementitwasclearthathecameonanerrandofmercy.Hishouseseemedstilltobewellprovided,andhebroughtwithhimacertainamountofprovender.Thishedidnotbestowindiscriminatelybutonlyoncertainfamilies,whichDavidguessedtocontainmembersofthecoven.Tothesehespokewithauthority,andheusedhispowertoputreasonintothedistracted.
Healoneintheplaceseemedtohavenofearofinfection--tobecarelessoftheriskwhichhadsentpanicabroadamongtheothers.Hepassedtheministerwithagravesalutation,andshowednowishtogiveoraskforhelp;hehadsomebusinessafootwhichwashisprivateconcern.Butthefactstoodoutthatthisman,aloneinWoodilee,hadmasteredfear.
OnceinacottagewhereachildwasrecoveringhecameuponDavidandKatrine.Thegirlwassittingonastoolbythebedmakingatoyoutofreedsforthechild’samusement,andsingingaFrenchnurserysongaboutCadetRousselandhisthreehouses.DavidliftedhiseyesfromadmiringthegraceandswiftnessofherhandstoseeChasehope’sheavywhitefaceintheglowofthefirelight.ThelatterdoffedhisbonnetatthesightofKatrine,andmurmuredsomecivility.Clearlyheknewher,forhepickedupareedfromthefloor."FraetheCalidonmill-dam,belike,"hesaid.
"YouaretheonemaninWoodileewhohascourage,"Davidsaid.
