Заборонений ліс
XV. Hallowmass
Hefeltthathecouldbringhersafelythroughragingriversandacrossmountainsofstone,thatforherhecouldscaletheairandploughthehills,thatnothingwasimpossiblewhichshecommanded.Theytwocouldmakeoftheworldasongandarapture.Sodeepwashistransportthathescarcelyheardhervoicewhenshespoke.
"Ihavebeenhearingofyourtroubles,Mr.David.HewhomwemustcallMarkRiddelhastoldme."
"Ihavenotroubles,"hecried."NowthatIseeyoutheworldisaltogethergood."
"WillyoutellthattothePresbytery?"sheasked,laughing.
"Iwilltellittothebroadearth--ifyougivemeleave."
Amomentaryconfusioncameoverher.Sheslightlycheckedherhorse,andasthegroundshelvedthebeaststumbled.TheslipbroughtherincontactwithDavid’sshoulder,andbeforesheknewhishandwaslaidonhers.
"Oh,mydear,mydear,"hecried."Katrine,Imustsayit...Iamdaftforloveofyou....SinceIfirstsawyoudowninthegreenwoodyourtwoeyeshavebeensunandmoontome.Yourface--Godforgiveme--comesbetweenmeandtheWord.TherearetimeswhenIcannotprayforthinkingofyou....It’snothingIaskofyou,Katrine,butjustleavetotellyou.Whatwasityoursongsaid?--’There’snaneformebutyou,mylove’--andoh!it’sthegospeltruth."
Shedidnotreply,butherhanddidnotmoveunderhis.TheyweredescendingthehilltowardsRood,andthefoghadgrownsothickthateachtotheotherwasonlyashadow.Beforeithadenclosedtheminavisibleencirclement;nowitseemedtohavecreptsonearthatitdislimnedtheoutlinesofhorseandrider