Запретный лес
XI. The Minister Girds up his Loins
Iaskyou,EphraimCaird,asyouwillanswertoyourGod,wherewereyouinthemirkofthatnight?"
Theheavyface,nowbrick-redwithsummersuns,didnotchange.
"WheresuldIbebutinmybed?Igaedtill’tearly,forIhadalangdaywi’thehog-lambs."
"Youknowthatthatisalie.YouwereintheWood,asyouwereintheWoodatBeltane,dancingawayyourmiserablesoultotheDevil’spiping.WithmyowneyesIsawyou."
TheastonishmentofChasehopewasadmirablysimulated.
"Areyedaft,sir?Areyeganecleangyte?Ye’renoweel,Mr.Sempill.Sityedoun,andI’llfetchyousomewaterinmybonnet.Ye’vegotablaffo’thesun."
"IamnotmadnoramIsick.Ihavepreachedthroughoutthesummeratthesin,andthetimehasnowcometogettogripswiththesinner.Thisisyourlastchance,EphraimCaird.Willyouconfesstome,whohavebeensetinspiritualauthorityoveryou,ormustconfessionbewrungfromyoubyothermeans?"
ItwasawarningwhichDavidfeltboundtogive,buthewassilentastotherestofhispurpose,forhehaddecidedthatthetimehadnotyetcometoshowhishand.HelookedsternlyatChasehope,andunderhisgazetheman’sfaceseemedtowhiten,andhisoddgreenisheyestowaver.Butitmightbeininnocentamazement.
"Ikennawhatyespeako’,"hestammered."WhatconcernhaveIwi’theWud?Askthewife,andshe’lltellyouthatIsleepittheLammasnichtinmybed.Butoh--thethingfaircoupsthecrans!...andmeanelderthaetenyear!Ye’renoweel,orye’redementit,tospeaksicwordstoamanlikeme.
