Заборонений ліс
XIII. White Magic
Whenhelefthislairatlastitwasjustbeforedawn--onfoot,withabluecoatinsteadofthehoddengreyofIsobel’sgoodman,andfourmilesontheEdinburghroadJockDoddsfromCalidonwaitedwithahorseforhim.
Davidwouldfainhavehadthelegprovetroublesome,thatthetimeofhidingintheWoodmightbeprolonged,forthatseasonpassedforhimwiththespeedofatoohappydream.TobewithKatrinewasatalltimesbliss,buttobeherpartneronthesedarkjourneysandinthesemidnightconclaveswasaraptureofhappiness.IfhehadlosthisaweoftheWood,hehadlostalsothesensethatinlettinghisheartdwellonthegirlhewasfallingawayfromduty.ThestandardsoftheKirkmeantthelesstohimsincehewasindeclaredcontroversywithitsrepresentatives,andasuccourerbystealthofitsenemies.Hiscanonsofconductweredissolving,andintheirconfusionhewaswillingtosurrenderhimselftomoreancientinstincts.Theministerwasbeingforgotteninthemanandthelover.
Thelover--thoughnowordoflovewasspokenbetweenthetwo.Theywerecomradesonly,truantchildren,boyandgirlonaSaturdayholiday.Itwasaclosecompanionship,yetasunembarrassedasthatofsisterandbrother.InherpresenceDavidcaughthermood,andlaughedwithit,butwhenabsentfromherhewasinapassionofworship.Theslimgreen-gownedfiguredancedthroughhiswakinghoursandhauntedhisdreams.Hemadenoplans,forecastnofuture;hewasinthathappyfirststageoflovewhichiscontenttolivewithahorizonboundedbythenextmeeting
