Запретный лес

           Comeforrit,sir,andtak’alookonherthat’sgane.Therewasnaedeid-thrawswi’Mirren,andshe’slyin’aspeacefu’asabairn.Herfaceissairfaunin,butImindwhenitwasthebonniestfaceina’Roodwater."

           Thedeadwomanlaywithcheekslikewax,acoinoneacheye,sothatforthemomentherfacehadthelookofaskull.Diseasehadsculpturedittoanextremefineness,andthenose,thejaw,andthelinesoftheforeheadseemedchiselledoutofivory.Davidhadrarelylookedondeath,andthesightgavehimasensefirstofrepulsionandthenofanintolerablepathos.Hescarcelyheardtheclatteroftheshepherd’swife.

           "She’sbeendeein’thismonyaday,andnowshe’sganejoyfullytomeetherLord.Eh,butshewasblithetoganginthehinnerend.TherewasatimewhenshewassweirtoleaveRichie.’Elspet,’shesaystome,’whatwillthatpuirmano’minedaehisleelane?’andIayesaystoher,’Mirren,mywumman,theLord’sagrandprovider,andRichiewillhaudfastbyHim.Arenottwasparrows,’Isays--"

           Davidwentovertothehusbandonthecreepiebythefireside,andlaidhishandonhisshoulder.Themansathunchedinastuporofmisery.

           "Richie,"hesaid,"ifI’mtoolatetopraywithMarion,Icanpraywithyou."

           Heprayed,ashealwaysprayed,notinamosaicofScripturetexts,butinsimplewords;andashespokehefelttheman’sshoulderunderhishandshakeaswithasob.Heprayedwithasincereemotion,forhehadbeenridingthroughaliving,colouredworld,andnowfeltlikeanicyblastthechillandpallorofdeath.