Запретный лес
VIII. The Second Blast
Ihavenowheretolookbuttoyou.WillyoucomewithmewhenIreturntotheWood?"
"I’llnosaythat,forthere’smaybebetterwayso’guidin’it.ButthisIwillsay--I’llstandbyye;formaytheDeilfleeawa’wi’meorIseeaguidmanbeat.There’smyhandon’t....AndnowImaunbetakin’theroadagain.ComenaneartheReiverslaw,sir,forthatwouldsetthebodiestalkin’.Ifyewantwordwi’me,tellRichieSmailattheGreenshiel."
TheknowledgethathehadfoundafriendlightenedDavid’sheavypreoccupationofmind.Athanasiusnowwasnotaloneagainsttheworld,andhispathwasnottowardsmartyrdombuttovictory.Hewalkedwithamoreassuredstepandturnedabolderfacetothefurtivehostilityoftheparish.WhenhemetAmosRitchiehelookedonhimnotinreproachbutindefiance.Hissermonswerenowlessappealsthanchallenges,asofonewhosecoursewasproclaimedandwhoseloinsweregirded.
TohisconsternationhefoundthathenowsatverylooseinhisdevotiontotheKirk.Theprofessionofreligionwasnotthesamethingasgodliness,andhewascomingtodoubtwhethertheinsistenceuponminuteconformitiesofoutwardconductandthehair-splittingdoctrineswerenotdevicesofSatantoentanglesouls.Thephrasesofpiety,unctuouslydelivered,madehimshudderasatablasphemy.Thefactthathisonlysupporterwasonelookedaskanceatbystrictprofessorsconfirmedhisshrinking.HadnotChristsetthepublicanandthesinnerabovethePharisee?
OneconsequenceofhisnewmoodwasthathisthoughtsturnedagaintothegirlinParadise.
