Заборонений ліс
XVIII. The Plague
"Yecannacomehere,forthepest’sinilkabiteweeatandsowpwedrinkandbreathwedraw.Awa’wi’ye,an’keepyourmouthtightsteekittillye’reowertheHillo’Deer.Oh,hasteye,orye’llbesmittenlikethelave,andye’reoweryoungandbonnytodee."
"Katrine,Katrine,"Davidexclaimedinagony."Whatmadnessbroughtyouhere?Haveyounotheardthathalftheparishissickordead?Thereispoisonintheveryair.Oh,mydear,comenotnearme.WrapafoldofyourcloakoveryourmouthandneverslackenreintillyouarebackinCalidon."
Thegirldrewoffhergloves.HereyeswereonIsobel.
"Iamhispromisedwife,"shesaid."WhereshouldIbeifnotbyhisside?"
ThenewsleftIsobelstaring."Hispromisedwife,"shestammered."Heardyeeverthelike--themanseo’WoodileetoseekamistressfromCalidon!...Butthemairreasonwhyyesuldtak’tent.There’snaeplaceforabonnydoolikeyersel’inthisstrickenparish--yecannahelpithersandyemaygetyouraindeath.Awa’hame,mybrawleddy,fortheministerhaseneuchtotroublehimwithoutconcernforhisjoe."
ThegirlwalkedtoDavid’ssideandputherhandinhisarm.
"Youwillnotforbidme,"shesaid,andherfacewasstillsmiling."Idonotfeartheplague,andIdonotthinkitwillharmme,foritsmitesthosewholiveinfoulhovels,andIamalwaysaboutthehills.ButIdofearthisloneliness.Ihavenotseenyoufortwoweeks,David,andIhavebeenimaginingterriblethings.Ihavecometohelpyou,forIhaveknownthepestbefore--manytimesinFrance,andinOxfordtoo.