Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
Shewasfarcoolerthanhe,buthercheekswereflushed,andhehadseenbeforethosedarkmirthfuleyes.Mirthfultheywere,forherangerseemedtohavegone,andshewaslookingdownonhimwithashyamusement.Shehadrecognizedhimtoo,andhadspokenhisname....Hehadit.ItwasthegirlwhohadcurtsiedtoNicholasHawkshaw’sguestsinthecandle-lightatCalidon.Hisabashmentwasincreased.
"Madam,"hestammered,"Madam,Ithoughtyouwereafairy."
Shelaughedoutloudwiththeabandonmentofchildhood."Afairy!And,pray,sir,isitpartofthedutiesofagospelministertopursuefairiesinthewoods?"
"Iamshamed,"hecried."Youdowelltoupbraidme.ButonthisspringdayIhadforgotmysacredcallinganddreamedIwasaboyoncemore."
"Idonotupbraidyou.IndeedIamgladthataministercanstillbeaboy.Butfolksdonotcomehere,andIthoughtthewoodmyown,sowhenIsawyoustumblingamongthefernIhadanotiontoplayatrickonyou,andfrightenyou,asIhavefrightenedintrudersbefore.Ithoughtyouwouldrunaway.Butyouweretooboldforme,andnowyouhavediscoveredmysecret.Thiswoodismyplayground,whereIcanpickflowersandsingballadsandbehappywithbirdsandbeasts....Youwereamanbeforeyouwereaminister.Whatisyourname?"
"TheycallmeDavidSempill.IlivedasachildattheMilloftheRoodfoot."
"Thenyouhaveseisinofthisland.YoutoohaveplayedintheWood?"
"Nay,madam,theWoodisstrangetome.Ihavebutriddenthroughit,andtillto-dayIhavehadsomedreadofit.ThisMelanudrigillisillreputed.
