Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
Memoryreturnedtohim;thismustbetheburnwhichdescendednearthemillatRoodfoot;heknewwellitslowercourse,forhehadoftenguddledtroutinitspools,buthehadneverexploreditsupperwaters.Nowhefelttheexcitementofadiscoverer....Theravinenarrowedtoacleftwherethestreamfellinawhitespoutintoacauldron.Davidmadethepassagebyslitheringdowntheadjacentrocksandemergedwettotheknees.Hewasasamusedasaboyplayingtruantfromschool,andwhenhefoundawater-ouzel’snestinthenotchofatree-roothefeltthathehadprofitofhistruancy.Therecameamorelevelstretch,whichwasagloryofprimrosesandwood-anemones,thenanotherlinn,andthenacupofturfrimmedwithhazels,wherethewatertwinedinplacidshallows....Helookedupandsawontheoppositebankaregimentofdarkpines.
HehadcometotheedgeofMelanudrigill.Thetreesroselikeacloudabovehim,andaftertheopencoppiceofbirchandhazelheseemedtobelookingintodeepwaterwherethingswereseendarklyasthroughadullglass.Thereweregladeswhichranintoshadows,andfantasticrocks,andmoundsofdeadbrackenwhichlookedliketombs.Yettheplacefascinatedhim.It,too,wasunderthespellofSpring,andhewonderedhowSpringwalkedinitsrecesses.Heleaptthestreamandscrambledupthebankwithanoddfeelingofexpectation.Hewascalledtoadventureonthisdayofdays.
Theplacewasnotdark,butdimandverygreen.
