Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
Hesawitagaininthecleftofatinyrivuletwhichcamedownfromapileofrocks,buthemisseditashescrambledupthesteep.Itseemedthatthegownplayedtrickswithhimandledhimon,for,ashecheckedatfault,hehadaglimpseofitlowerdown,whereanaisleinthetreesgaveaviewofthebaldtopofamountain.Davidwasyoungandactive,butthegownwasswifterthanhe,forashewentdowntheslopeingreatleapsitvanishedintotheduskofthepines.Hehaditagain,lostit,founditsuddenlyhighabovehim--alwaysaglimmerofgreenwithbutahintofagirl’sformbehindit....Davidbecamewary.Nymphorhuman,itshouldnotbeathimatthissportofhide-and-seek.Therewasalineoflowcliffsabove,upwhichitcouldnotgounlessittookwings.Davidkeptthelowerground,determinedthathewoulddrivethatwhichhefollowedtowardsthecliffline.Hesucceeded,foraftertwicetryingtobreakaway,thegownflutteredintoatinyravine,withthickscrubonbothsidesandtherockwallatthetop.AsDavidpantedupwardhesawinamossyplacebelowthecragsabreathlessgirltryingtomasterhertumblingtresses.
Hestoppedshortinadeepembarrassment.Hehadbeenpursuingafairy,andhadfoundamortal--amortalwholookeddownonhimwithaflushedfaceandangryeyes.Hewasfuriouslyhot,andthepaceandhisamazementberefthimofspeech.Itwasshewhospokefirst.
"WhatdoestheministerofWoodileeintheWood--andbedeckedwithprimroses?"
Thevoicewasfamiliar,andashebrushedthesweatfromhiseyesthefacetooawokerecollection.
