Запретный лес
XVII. Woodilee and Calidon
"Somethingofthejoyinhisownheartrevealeditselfinapeculiartenderness;oftentherewereweteyesamonghishearers,andthechildren,squattedonthegrassorontheflatgravestones,forboretowhisperandfidget,andlistenedwithagraveattention.Hiseldersdidnotattend;indeed,withtheexceptionofPeterPennecuik,theyforboreeventogracetheorthodoxministrationsofMr.Fordyce.ChasehopeandhisfriendswalkedthefivemoorlandmilestoBoldtosuponthestrongfareofMr.Ebenezertillsuchtime--earlyintheNewYear,itwasbelieved--asthePresbyterypronouncedfinaljudgmentontheirminister.
Woodileehadsplitintotwofactions.TherewasthepartyoftheSession,whoheldDavidtobeamalignant,oratbestaLaodicean,onewhogaveadoubtfulsoundofdoctrine,arebel,adespiserofauthority,apreacherofacoldmorality.Tothissidebelongedmanyofundoubtedpiety,whohadbeenshockedbyhisdefianceandgavereadyeartowhisperedscandal.OfDavid’spartywererespectedprofessorslikeRichieSmailandRabPrentice,severalgodlywomen,adecenthindortwo,andatailwhichwasneithergodlynorrespected.AmonghissupportersweresomewhomhesuspectedofdealingswiththeWood,andingeneralhehadwithhimallthatwasleastesteemedintheparish.TohaveReiverslaw--whowasagaindrinkinghard--ashisprophet,andDaftGibbieashisfugleman,didnotenhancethecreditofhiscause.BetweentheJewsandtheSamaritanstherewerenodealings.
