Заборонений ліс
II. The Road to Calidon
AndyettoDavid’seyetherewasthataboutthemwhichbeliedtheirapparentrank.Theyhadspokeninthecountryway,buttheirtoneswerenotthoseofcountrymen.TheyhadnottheairofagauntJockoraround-facedTamfromtheplough-tail.Allthreewereslim,andthehandswhichgraspedthebridleswerenotablyfine.Theyheldthemselvesstraightlikecourtiers,andintheirvoiceslurkedanoteasofmenaccustomedtocommand.Theleaderwasadarkman,withawearythinfaceandgreatcirclesroundhiseyes;thesecondatallfellow,withatannedskin,acastinhislefteye,andarestlessdare-devillook;thethird,whoseemedtobetheirgroom,hadsofarnotspoken,andhadstoodatthebackwiththeledhorse,butDavidhadaglimpseabovehisraggeddoubletofaneatsmallmoustacheandadelicatechin."Levenhasgoodbloodinhisranks,"hethought,"forthesethreenevercameoutofabut-and-ben."Moreover,theordinarytrooperonhiswayhomewouldnotmakeCalidonahouseofcall.
Heledthemuptotheglenroad,intendingtogivethemdirectionsabouttheirway,buttherehefoundthathismemoryhadbetrayedhim.HeknewexactlyinwhichnookofhilllayCalidon,butforthelifeofhimhecouldnotrememberhowthetrackrantoit.
"I’llhavetobeyourguide,sirs,"hetoldthem."IcantakeyoutoCalidon,butIcannottellyouhowtogetthere."
"We’rebeholdentoyou,sir,butit’sasoreburdenonyourgood-nature.Doesyourownroadlieinthatairt?"
Theyoungmanlaughed."ThenightisfineandI’minnohastetobeinbed.I’llhaveyouatCalidondoorinhalfanhour.