Запретный лес
XIV. The Counterblast
SohehaddelayedjourneyingtoKirkAller,hopingthathismoodwouldchange,andthatthatwhichwasnowacolddutywouldreviveasaburningmission....SuddenlyapostbroughthimasummonsfromMr.Muirheadtowaituponhimwithoutdelay.
HerodedowntheriversideinadayofOctobergloomsandshadows.Sometimesawallofhazewoulddropfromthehillssothatthewaterranwanasintheballads,andthewitheringfernandblanchingheathhadthetintsofDecember.Thenalightwindwouldfurltheshroudedskyintofantastictowersandbattlements,throughlongcorridorsofwhichtheblueheavenswouldshinelikeAprilataninfinitedistance,andthebaldmountain-tops,litbysun-gleams,wouldberevealed.Whenherodeoverthecrook-backedbridgeofAller,pasttheburghgallows,hesawthatthedoomsterhadbeenbusyathiswork.Threeraggedscarecrowshunginchains,thefleshalreadygonefromtheirlimbs,andacoveyofobscenebirdsroseathisapproach.StragglersofMontrose,heguessed,andhewonderedhowmanygallows-hillsinScotlandshowedthesamegrimharvest.Thethought,andthefantasticOctoberweather,deepenedthegloomwhichallmorninghadbeengrowingonhim.
Hefoundanewmanintheminister’schair.ThevictoryofhiscauseseemedtohaveexpandedMr.Muirhead’sperson,sothatheloomedacrosstheoakentablelikeajudgeinhisrobes.Pridepursedhislips,andauthoritysatonhisforehead.Goneweretheairsoftolerantgood-humour,theassumptionofmeekness,thehomelinesswhichhadagreetingandajokeforall.
