Запретный лес
XI. The Minister Girds up his Loins
Butthedrink,ifsobeye’renofou,whilesgi’esyeagreatclearness,andIcounselye,sir,tokeepwideo’thelaw,whetheritbeoftheKirkortheState.It’sakittlething,andhimthatinvokesitisliketogettheredder’sstraik[thepeacemaker’sblow].It’slikeahorsethatflingsitsheelswhenyemountanddingsouttherider’steeth....Buthaeyourainwayo’t,anddinnablamemeifit’safashiousway.There’smeandRabPrenticeandRichieSmailwaitin’tosweirtowhat’sinourknowledge,andifthere’smairspeirin’tobedoneintheWud,I’llnofailye.Butkeepinmind,Mr.Sempill,thatI’mathrangbody,andmaunbedrawin’mycrocksandsellin’myhog-lambsaforetheback-end,andit’slikeI’llhaetotraiveltoDumfries,andmaybetoCarlisle.Richiewillayehaewordo’mydoings,andifyewantmeitwadbewisetotellRichieaweekafore."
ThatnightonhisreturnDavidsummonedIsobeltohispresence.Thehousekeeperappearedwithamorecheerfulcountenancethanshehadwornforweeks,buttheminister’sfirstwordssolemnizedher.
"IsobelVeitch,IaskedyouaquestionafterBeltaneandyourefusedmeananswer.I,yourminister,besoughtyouraidasaconfessingChristian,andyoudenieditme.ItoldyouthatIwouldnotrestuntilIhadrootedtheidolatryoftheWoodfromthisparish.SincethenIhavenotbeenidle,andIhavefoundmenwhodidnotfailme.ThreedaysbackIrodetoNewbiggin,asItoldyou,butIreturnedonLammasEve,andonLammasEveIwasawitnessasecondtimetotheabominationsoftheheathen.
