Запретный лес
XVII. Woodilee and Calidon
Novemberwasbrightandcalm,andtheharvest,delayedbyOctoberrains,wassoongathered.Oatsandbear,flaxandrye--thelittlecropswerehousedwithinaweek,andsincethesnowstarried,itwasthemiddleofDecemberbeforethecattlewereinthebyresandyards,andthesheepbroughtdowntotheinfields.Thecountrysidepresentedastrangespectacle.Heatherlingeredinbloom,andtheleaveswereontheashesandhazelstilllongafterHallowmass.Whentheydidfalltherewerenofroststocrumblethem,andtheylayingreatdriftsinthewoodsandbytheroadside,andchildrendivedandscrambledamongthem.TherewereswallowsstillinthethatchinNovember,andAmosRitchie,whenhewentouttothemosstointerceptthetravellingskeinsofwildgeese,foundthatthecurlewsandplovershadnotyetflittedtotheseashoreandthattherewerenowildfowltobeseeninalltheblueheavens.MorningaftermorningthesunroseclearasinJune,thenightsweremildandstarlit,herbswhichshouldhavebeensnugbelowtheearthsproutedprematurely,thehedgehogandthebadgerhadforgottentogotosleep,andonlytheshorthoursoflightshowedthatitwasmidwinter.Reiverslaw,alwaysascornerofprecedents,kepthissheeponthehills,wherethepasturewasasrichasinsummer-time.
Buttheoldandthewisefrownedandshooktheirheads.Onesaiditwassuchayearas’71,ofwhichhisgrandsirehadtold,whenwinterdidnotbegintillFebruary,anddidnotendtillJune.
