Запретный лес
XVII. Woodilee and Calidon
Soonhewouldhavebeen"Mark"tomost,and"Glee’dMark"behindhisback.Butfromthatnightformalityanddecoruminvestedhim;hewas"Crossbasket"eventothechildren,andthehumblerdoffedtheirbonnetswhenhedrewnear.
HecametoDavidoneeveningwhenthecandlewaslitinthestudy.
"Whatartswereyon,"theministerasked,"thatturnedtheprickerfromamanintoajelly?"
Markhadsathimselfinadeeparmchaircoveredwithblackleather,whichhadbeenDavid’sfather’sandhadcometothemansefromthePleasanceaftertheroup.Hehadcrossedhislegsandlethisheadliebackwhilehepuffedhistobacco-pipe.Helaughedasheanswered:
"Asimpledivertisement,butgoodenoughforsuchacaddis-worm.ApinchofGreekpowderinthelantern,andfortherestadeviceIlearnedamongthetinklersinHungarywhensomeofusgentleman-cavaliershadtotaketothehillsandforestsforaseason.Butthebodywaseasygame.Thesightofmyeenwasenoughtomelthiswits....Chasehope’sanotherkindoflad--there’smetalthere,thoughit’smaybeoftheDevil’sforging....Butforthemomentwe’vefairlyhoughedhisshelty."
"Yousawhowdistraughthewas,"Markcontinued,"ay,andothersbesidehim,whenyouofferedtocarrythewifetothemanse.Thereasonwasnailltoseek.Whenshewasbeingtorturedtoconfession,Chasehopewasbesideherandmasteredherwithhiseen....Shewasoneofthecoven,youtellme.Butonceinyourhandshewasfearedshewouldtellthingsofmoremomentthanthebletherstheywrungoutofher....Shedidnaspeak?Ay,Ithoughtshewasowerfargone.
