Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
Hisfirsthourhehadspentexploringhisproperty.Themansewaslittleandsquat,andgavelodginginitsheather-thatchedrooftomorethanonecolonyofbees.Thefrontabuttedonthekirktonroad,saveforanarrowstripofgreenedgedwithsmoothwhitestonesfromtheburn.Thebacklookedonagarden,wherestoodascoreofappletrees,thesmallwildfruitofwhichwasscarcelyworththegathering.Therewasalsoasquareofgreenforbleachingclothes,ageantree,aplotofgillyflowersandmonkshood,andanotherofpreciousherbslikeclary,penny-royal,andmarjoram.Atoneendofthemansestoodabrewhouseandagranaryorgirnel,forthestoringoftheminister’sstipendmeal;attheotherastablefortwobeasts,abyrewiththreestalls,ahen-houseofmud,and,intheangleofthedykesofthekirkloan,amiddenamongnettles.
Indoorstheplacewasnotcommodious,andevenonthatwarmAugustdayachillstruckupwardfromtheearthenfloors.Thelow-ceiledlobbyhadnolightbuttheopendoor.Totherightofitwastheliving-roomwithaboardedceiling,awoodenfloor,androughlyplasteredwalls,wheretheminister’seight-dayclock(byJohnAtchison,Leith,1601)hadnowacclimatizeditself.TotheleftlayIsobel’skitchen,withadoorleadingtothebrewhouse,andIsobel’spress-bedatthebackofit,andasmalldog-holeofacellar.Theupperstorywasreachedbyawoodenstaircaseassteepasaladder,whichopeneddirectintotheminister’sbedroom--anapartmentofluxury,forithadafireplace.
