Запретный лес
V. The Black Wood by Day
"
"Youdonotlovesermons?"
Shemadeamouth.
"IdonotthinkIfollowthem.Youarelearnedtheologians,youofScotland,andIamstillatthehorn-book.ButsomedayIwillcometohearyou,foryoursermonsIthinkImightunderstand."
"Icouldnotpreachtoyou,"hesaid.
"Andwherefore,sir?Areyourdiscoursesonlyforwrinkledcarlsandoldrudaswives?Istherenoplaceinyourkirkforagirl?"
"Youarenotofourpeople.Theseedcanbesownonlyinafieldprepared."
"Butthatisheresy.Arenotallsoulsalike?"
"True.Butthevoiceofthepreacherisheardonlybyopenears.Ithinkyouaretoohappyinyouryouth,mistress,formysolemnities."
"Youdomeinjustice,"shesaid,andherfacewasgrave."Iamyoung,andIthinkIhaveacheerfulheart,forIcanexultinaspringmorning,andIcannotbeverylongsad.ButIhavehadsorrows--afatherslaininthewars,amotherdeadofgrieving,abundlingaboutamongkinsfolkwhowerenotallgracious.Ihaveoftenhadsoreneedofcomfort,sir."
"Youhavefoundit--where?"
"Intheresolvenevertobeafaintheart.Thatismycreed,thoughIfailofteninthepractice."
Toanearaccustomedtoaformalpietytheconfessionseemedalmostablasphemy.Heshookadisapprovinghead.
"Thatisbutacoldpaganphilosophy,"hesaid.
"YetIlearneditfromasermon,andthatlittlemorethanayearback."
"Wherewasitpreached?"
"InEngland,andinnokirk,butattheKing’sCourt."
"WasitbyMr.Henderson?"
"ItwasbyaPresbyterian--buthewasnominister.Listen,andIwilltellyouthestory.
