Запретный лес
VII. The First Blast
"Willyehaeyourbiteo’meat,sir?"shequavered.
"IwillnotbreakbreadtillGodhasgivenmeclearness,"hesaidsternly;andIsobel,whowasinthehabitofspinningouthertalkswithhermastertillshewasdrivenout,slippedfromtheroomlikeadischargedprisonerwhofearsthattheCourtmaychangeitsmind.
Davidrosenextmorningafterasleeplessnight,batteredinbody,butwithsomepeaceofmind,andindeedacomfortwhichhescarcelydaredtoconfesstohimself.Hehadnowastraightcoursebeforehim.Therewasanevilthingintheplaceagainstwhichhehaddeclaredwar,anomnipresentevil,forhedidnotknowwhoweretheguilty.ThethingwasliketheWooditself,anamorphousshadowcloudingthedaylight.Gonewerethedividedcounsels,thescruplesofconscience.WhatmatteredhisdoubtsaboutthepolicyoftheKirkatlargewhenherebeforehiseyeswasaconflictofGodandBelial?...Forthefirsttime,too,hecouldlethisminddwellwithoutscruplesuponthegirlinthegreenwood.Thelittleglenthatseparatedthepinesfromtheoaksandthehazelshadbecomeforhimthefrontierbetweendarknessandlight--ontheonesidetheinnocencyoftheworldwhichGodhadmade,ontheothertheuncleanhauntsofdevilry....AndyethehadfirstmetKatrineamongthepines.Tohishorroroftheworksofdarknesswasaddedabittersenseofsacrilege--thatobscenerevelryshouldtreadtheveryturfthatherfeethadtrod.
ThatafternoonhesetoutforChasehope.
