Запретный лес

           AndthereIsawwhatmayGodinHismercyforbidthatIshouldseeagain--adanceofdevilstotheDevil’spiping.InmywrathIrushedamongthem,andtorethemaskfromtheDevil’shead,andthentheyoverboremeandIlostmysenses.WhenIwrestledwiththemIwrestledwithfleshandblood--perishingmenandwomenraptinalustofevil."

           Hestopped,andIsobel’seyesdidnotmeethis."Keepusa’!"shemoaned.

           "Thesemenandwomenwere,Ifirmlybelieve,myownparishioners."

           "Itcannabe,"theoldwomancroaked."Yewerenayoursel’,Mr.David,sir....Yewerecleanfeywi’theblacknesso’theWudandthemuneandthewanchancyhour.Yesawferlies[marvels],buttheywerenafleshandbluid,sir...."

           "IsawthebodiesofmenandwomeninWoodileewhohavesoldtheirsoulstodamnation.IsobelVeitch,asyourmasterandyourminister,Ichargeyou,asyouwillanswerbeforetheJudgmentSeat,whatknowyouoftheaccursedthinginthisparish?"

           "Me!"shecried."Me!Ikennocht.Meandmymanayekeepitclearo’theWud."

           "WhichistosaythattherewereothersinWoodileewhodidnot.Answerme,woman,asyouhopeforsalvation.Thesinofwitchcraftisrampanthere,andIwillnotresttillIhaverooteditout.WhoarethoseinWoodileewhokeeptrystwiththeDevil?"

           "HowsuldIken?Oh,sir,Iprayyetospeirnaemairquestions.Woodileehasayebeenkennedforaqueerbit,lappitinthemuckleWud,buttheguiltyayecomebyanillend.There’sbeenmairwitcheshowkitouto’WoodileeandbruntthaninonyitherparochineontheWatero’Aller.