Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
Hewasanotedprofessor,withanuncannygiftofprayer,andhisby-namesinWoodileewere"Hirplin’Rab"andthe"OneLeggitProphet."Butto-dayevenPrenticeseemedmellowedbythespring.HegaveDavidafriendlygood-day."Thevoiceo’theturtleisheardontheyirth,"heannounced,andashehobbledoverapatchofoldmoorburn,sendingupcloudsofgreydust,Prenticetoobecameafigureofpastoral.
Davidhadrarelyfeltamorebenignantmood.Thegrimnessofwinterhadgonecleanoutofhismind,andhehadenteredonalargeandgraciousworld.Hewalkedslowlylikeanepicure,drinkinginthequintessentialairofthehills,markingthestrongblueswirloftheburns,thefreshgreenofthemosses,thebudsonthehawthorns,theflashofthewater-ouzelsinthesprayofthelittlefalls.Curlewsandpeewitsfilledthemoorwiththeircrying,andashebegantodescendintotheRoodglenalark--thefirsthehadheard--rosetoheavenwithafloodofsong.
HiseyeshadbeensoengagedwiththeforegroundthathehadnotlookedtowardsMelanudrigill.Nowhesawit,darkandmassy,theonlyopaquethinginatranslucentworld.Buttherewasnothingoppressiveinitsshadows,foroppressioncouldnotexistinascenesofullofairandlightandsong.ForamomenthehadamindtogoboldlyintoitscovertsbywayofReiverslawandmakeforthelowercourseoftheWoodileeburn.ButthesightofthewildwoodintheRoodglendetainedhim.Itwasadaynotforthepines,butforthehazelsandbirches,whereinopengladesamanwouldhavealwaysaviewofthehillsandthesky.
