"Werewolf" - читать интересную книгу автора (Housman Clarence)

He was seen at dusk for the last time, escaping from the house
with his puppy, in freakish rebellion against old Trella. Later,
when his absence had begun to cause anxiety, his puppy crept back
to the farm, cowed, whimpering and yelping, a pitiful, dumb lump
of terror, without intelligence or courage to guide the frightened
search.

Rol was never found, nor any trace of him. Where he had perished
was never known; how he had perished was known only by an
awful guess a wild beast had devoured him.

Christian heard the conjecture 'a wolf'; and a horrible certainty
flashed upon him that he knew what wolf it was. He tried to
declare what he knew, but Sweyn saw him start at the words with
white face and struggling lips; and, guessing his purpose, pulled
him back, and kept him silent, hardly, by his imperious grip and
wrathful eyes, and one low whisper.

That Christian should retain his most irrational suspicion against
beautiful White Fell was, to Sweyn, evidence of a weak obstinacy
of mind that would but thrive upon expostulation and argument.
But this evident intention to direct the passions of grief and
anguish to a hatred and fear of the fair stranger, such as his own,
was intolerable, and Sweyn set his will against it. Again Christian
yielded to his brother's stronger words and will, and against his
own judgement consented to silence.

Repentance came before the new moon, the first of the year, was
old. White Fell came again, smiling as she entered, as though
assured of a glad and kindly welcome; and, in truth, there was only
one who saw again her fair face and strange white garb without
pleasure. Sweyn's face glowed with delight, while Christian's grew
pale and rigid as death. He had given his word to keep silence; but
he had not thought that she would dare to come again. Silence was
impossible, face to face with that Thing, impossible. Irrepressibly
he cried out:

'Where is Rol?'

Not a quiver disturbed White Fell's face. She heard, yet remained
bright and tranquil. Sweyn's eyes flashed round at his brother
dangerously. Among the women some tears fell at the poor child's
name; but none caught alarm from its sudden utterance, for the
thought of Rol rose naturally. Where was little Rol, who had
nestled in the stranger's arms, kissing her; and watched for her
since; and prattled of her daily?

Christian went out silently. One only thing there was that he could
do, and he must not delay. His horror overmastered any curiosity
to hear White Fell's smooth excuses and smiling apologies for her