Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
Soheslantedtohisrightthroughtheopencoppice,meaningtoreachthevalleyfloornearthefootofthepathwhichledtotheGreenshiel.
Thecoppicewasthickerthanhehadimagined.Thiswasnohillsidescrub,butaforest,agreenwood,withitsowngladesandhollows,itsownminiatureglensandstreams.Hewasinthemidstofsmallbirdswhomadeacheerfultwitteringfromthegreeningboughs,cushatstoowerebusy,andthethicketswerefulloffriendlybeasts.Hesawtherussetbackofadeerasitbrokecover,andthetawnystreakofahill-fox,andtherewasaperpetualscurryingofrabbits.Abovealltherewasagloryofprimroses.Thepaleblossomsstarredthegladesandthesidesofthedells,clungtotree-roots,andclimbedintocranniesofthegreywhinstonerock.Sothicktheywere,thattheirpalenessbecamegolden,thefirststrongcolourhehadseenthatday.Davidwasyoungandhisheartwaslight,sohegatheredagreatclumpofbloomsforhismansetable,andsetabouquetinhiscoatandanotherinhisbonnet.Theselatterwouldhavetogobeforehereachedthehighway,ortheparishwouldthinkthatitsministerhadgonedaft.Buthereinthesecretgreenwoodhecouldforgetdecorumandbedeckhimselflikeachild.
Presentlyhehadforgottentheroutehehadplanned.HefoundhimselfinashallowgladewhichrantotheleftandawayfromtheGreenshiel,anddownwhichleapedaburnsoentrancinginitsmadcapgracethathecouldnotchoosebutfollowit.
