Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
Hesawthelittlebeehivecottagesintheclachanwiththetallergable-endofLuckyWeir’sale-house.Hesawtheadjoiningfarm-towns--theMains,Chasehope,NetherWindyways,Crossbasket,thetwoFennans,eachwithitspatchesofcropsliftedwellabovethebogsoftheglen.HesawthemillofWoodileeatpresentidlebytheburn,andhaybeingcutonthesideofWindywayshill,andwhatlookedliketheclippingofthemiller’ssheep.Inthebrighteveningthescenewasallofpeaceandpastoral,andDavid’sheartkindled.Theredwelledhispeople,thelittleflockwhomGodhadappointedhimtofeed.Hisheartyearnedoverthem,andinasuddenglowoftendernesshefeltthatthissunsetprospectofhisparishwasanewandmoresolemnordination.
Itwaslongbeforeheliftedhiseyesbeyondtheglentothegreatencirclingamphitheatreofthehills.Atfirsthegazedattheminanabstraction,tillchildishmemoriescamebacktohimandhebegantonamethesummitstohimselfonebyone.TherewasthebaldtopoftheLammerlaw,andthepeakoftheGreenDod,andfarbeyondthelonglineofthegreatHerstaneCraig,whichinthatchildhoodhadbeenthesynonymforuntravelledmystery.HesawthegreencleftinthehillswheretheAllercamedownfromitsdistantwells,andthedarkerglenoftheRoodwherebentwasexchangedforrockandheather.HesawtheverypatchesofmeadowbyRoodsidewhichhehadmadehisboyishplayground.Suchahilltopprospecthehadneverbeforeknown,forachildlivesinamagnifiedworld,andfindsimmensityinshortvistas.Onethingstruckhardonhismind.
