Запретный лес

           Youhavemaybekilledher,murdererthatyoube!YoursinscryouttoGod,andyoursaboveall,EphraimCaird,whosehandsIhavemyselfseendippedintheblackestwitchcraft."

           Chasehope’sfacewassmilingblandly.

           "Ikennawhatrightyehavetomeddle,sir,"hesaid."Thepaperye’vetornisbutacopy.Thememorialitsel’willbeinsafehandsthisnicht.Wadyesetyoursel’upagainstthePresbyteryandthelawo’theland,youthathavebeensuspendedthisday,asisweelkenned,fraeyourrightsasministero’thisparish?Ye’dbestganghametoyourbed,sir,andpraythatyemaybedeliveredfraethesino’presumption.Thiswomanwillbidethenichtinthisplaceunderlockandkey,tilltheShirrasendsforher."

           "Shewillgowithmetothemansethisnight--and,pleaseGod,Iwillnurseherbackintolife."

           Therecouldbenoquestionoftheconsternationoftheaudience--italmostequalledhisown.Chasehopealonekepthiscomposure;theothersstaredinhorrorandgrowinganger.

           "Thatwillnobepermitted,"camefromtheloweringMirehope,and"Abonnyminister,"criedanother,"tofilehishousewi’adirtywitch.Hemaunhimsel’beowergreatwi’theDeil."Theprickertwistedandgrinned,andhiseyeswatchedapprovinglythespasmsofthewomanonthestraw.

           Davidwascarriedoutofhimself,andbeforehewasawareofithaddrawnhissword.

           "Shegoestothemanse.Iwillsuffernoletorhindranceinthisplainduty.Whoeveropposesmewillrueit."

           "Wadyedeforcethesession?"Mirehopeshoutedinavoicelikeabullandgottohisfeet.