Заборонений ліс

XVIII. The Plague

           Iknowwhatprecautionstotake,forIhaveheardwisemendiscussthem,butyouinWoodilee,fromallIhear,arenobetterthanfrightenedbairns."

           "Butyouraunt--MistressSaintserf--"

           "AuntGrizelknowsofmycoming.Shehasgivenmethispomanderofspices."Shetouchedatrinketwhichhungfromherneckbyagoldchain.

           Davidstruggledtosalvehisconsciencebyenergyindissuasion,andthoughhisheartcriedforherpresence,itwastorn,too,byfearforhersafety.Hecommanded,pled,expostulated,butsheonlyturnedasmilingface.Shesatdownbeforethepeatfireandstretchedoutherfeettothehotashes.

           "Youwillnotdrivemeaway,David,"shesaid."Wouldyouforbidmefromaworkofnecessityandmercy--andyouaminister?"

           Intheendhegaveupthetask,forherewasaresolutionstifferthanhisown,andhisstrongestargumentsfalteredwhenhesawhersmile,whichwaslikesunlightinaworldofdarknessandgrimfaces.Hefoundhimselftellingherhowtheplaguehadbegun,andofthenatureofitscourse--thelackofleechesandmedicines,thedearthofhelpers,thehouseholdsperishingsilentlyindoors.Shelistenedcalmly,anddidnotblanchevenatthetaleoftheshutteredcottagesandtheunburieddead.

           "Aprettymessyourfolkhavemadeofit,"shesaid."YouhaveturnedWoodileeintoalazar-house,andgiventhepestararebreeding-ground.Nevermindyourspiritualconsolations,David.Letthemiserablebodiescomebeforethesouls.Yousayyouhavenoleechtocurethesick,andthatmaybeisaswell,forIneveryetheardofleechthatcouldmastertheplague.

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