Запретный лес
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
Ahandfulofpeatssmoulderedonthehearth,andthethinbluesmokecurledupwardtoaddgrimetoanimmensecoatofarmscarvedinstoneandsurmountedbyaforestofdeerhornsandatrophyoftargesandspears.
David,accustomedonlytothelow-ceiledroomsoftheEdinburghcloses,staredinamazementatthesizeoftheplaceandfeltabashed.TheHawkshawshadmadetoogreatasoundinhisboyhood’sworldforhimtoentertheirdwellingwithoutacertaintremoroftheblood.Soabsorbedwasheinhissurroundingsthatitwaswithastartthathesawthemasterofthehouse.
Amanlimpedforward,gatheredtheleaderofthepartyinhisarmsandkissedhimonbothcheeks.
"Will,"hesaid,"Will,myoldcomrade!It’sakindwindthathasblownyoutoCalidonthisnight.Ihavenaclappedeyesonyouthesesixyear."
Thehostwasamanaboutmiddlelife,withtheshouldersofabullandamassiveshaggyheadnowinconsiderabledisorderfromthefactthatanight-caphadjustbeenremovedfromit.Hisclotheswereofacomfortableundress,forthetagsofhisdoubletandthepointsofhisbreecheswereundone,andoverallheworeanoldplaiddressing-gown.Hehadbeenreading,forapipeoftobaccomarkedhisplaceinafolio,andDavidnotedthatitwasPhilemonHolland’sversionoftheCyropædia.Hiseyeswereblueandfrosty,hischeeksruddy,hisbeardanirongrey,andhisvoiceasgustyasahillwind.Helimpedheavilyashemoved.
"Man,Will,"hecried,"it’sawhippingupofcrippleswhenyouandmeforgather.TheGermanywarshavemadelametersofthebothofus.
