Запретный лес
IV. The Faithful Servant
Thehay--coarseboggrasseswithlittlenutrimentinthem--wentmainlytothesheep;horsesandcattlehadforfodderstrawandmessesofboiledchaff;whileCrummieinthebyrewassometimesregaledwiththedébrisofthekailyardandtheoddmentsleftfromthefamilymeals.Wintereachyearwasbothforbeastandmanastrugglewithfamine,andeachwasrationedlikethepeopleofabesiegedcity.Butiffoodwasscarceatthebest,Woodileedidnotwantforfuel.Ithadbeenagoodyearforpeats,fortheyhadripenedwellonthehills,andtheopenautumnhadmadethemeasytocarry.Eachcottagehaditsamplepeat-stack,andwhenharvestwasovertherehadbeenalsoagreatgatheringofwindfallsfromthewoods,sothatbyeverydoorstoodapileofkindlings.
MelanudrigillinthebrightOctoberdayshadlostitsmenaceforDavid.Hehadnooccasiontovisititbynight,butmorethanonceherodethroughitbydayonhispastoralvisitationstoFennanortheRoodvalley,andonceinaflamingsunsethereturnedthatwayfromKirkAller.Thebrackenwasgoldenindecay,andtheyellowingbirches,therussetthorns,andtheoccasionalscarletofrowansmadethesombreplacealmostcheerful.Inhiswalksonthehillthegreatforestbelowhimseemedtohavegrownthinandopen,nolongeravastenvelopingcloak,butakindlycoveringfortheribsofearth.Somepotencyhadgonefromitwiththesummer,asifthetidesofafiercelifehadsunkbackintothegroundagain.Hehadseendeerintheglades,andtheylookedinnocentthings....
