Запретный лес

           Weel,that’sthetalethey’vegotten,andmayitstickintheirthrapples!I’mnofearedfortheirblethersaboutfairies,butwe’llneedsomestenchleestogetthesodger’sclaesblawnover.IwishIkennedwhawasthethief.I’llthreipthattheywereleftbyLeslie’sfolkandthatyekennednochtaboutthem."

           "Porme,"saidDavid,"Ishalltelltheplaintruth,saveinthementioningofnames.Icommandyou,Isobel,todolikewise.Themanisbynowoutofdanger,andafalsehood,whichmaybepardonedifitistosaveanother,isblacksinifusedbyacowardtosavehimself."

           Isobellookedathimuneasily."Therewillbeanawfu’speakintheparish,sir.Bethinkye,isitwisetogiesicahandletothemthatwadbringyedoun?...ButIseeyourmindismadeup,andnaewordso’minewillturnye.Wemaunhopethatthequestionwillneverbespeired,andIdauronymanorwummanintheplacetogetsaefarwi’measthespeirin’."

           DuringDavid’sabsenceinEdinburghMr.Fordyce,bythecommandofthePresbytery,hadpreachedintheafternoonintheWoodileekirk--tobutscantyaudiences,forthenewsofMontrose’sadvancehadinclinedthepeopletokeepinsidetheirdoors.OnthefirstSabbathafterhisreturn,whentherewerestilltroopsintheplace,thepulpithadbeenoccupiedbyoneofLeslie’schaplains,astalwartmemberoftheChurchmilitant,whohailedfromtheMearns,andwhosespeechwasconsequentlyunderstoodwithdifficultyintheBorderparish.Butonthenext,whenMarkKerrhadgonefromhisrefugeintheWood,Davidchangedhismind,andhimselffilledthepulpit.