Запретный лес

           Hesawhisdutyclearedfromalldoubts,andtheremusthavebeenthatinhisfacewhichtoldofhisthoughts,formengreetedhimandthenpassedon,asifunwillingtobreakinonhispreoccupation.OnlyReiverslaw,whowasonhiswaytoLuckyWeir’s,whencehewoulddepartdrunkinthesmallhours,wasobtuseinhisperceptions.Hetooktheminister’shandandshookitashewouldadrover’satafair,seemedanxioustospeak,foundnowords,andleftwithagruntedfarewell.

           Itwasafine,long-drawn-outback-end,thebestthathadbeenknownfortwentyyears.AllSeptemberthesunshonelikeJune,anditwaswellintoOctoberbeforethemorningfrostsbegan,andthethirdweekofNovemberbeforethesnowcame.Thelittlecrops--chieflygreyoatsandbarley,withanoccasionalrigofpeasandflax--werewellripenedandquicklyreaped.Thenettie-wiveswerebusyalldayinthefields,andthebarefootchildrenmadetheleadinginoftheharvestaholiday,withstrawwhistlesintheirmouthsandfantasticstrawbadgesontheirclothing.Thencamethethreshingwithjointedflails,andthewinnowingonbarnroofswhenthefirsteastwindsblew.Therewerenogleanersintheemptystubbles,foritwasheldapiousdutytoleavesomethingbehindforthefowlsoftheair.Presentlythescantyfruitsoftheearthwereundercover,theboghayindwarfishricks,theunthreshedoatsandbearinthebarns,thegraininthegirnels,andsoonthewheeloftheWoodileemillwasclackingmerrilytogrindthewinter’smeal.Inthatparishtheburdenofthelairdlaylight.