Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
Presentlystableandbyrewerecrowdedwiththeirbeasts,andthethreebrethrenhadbestowedthemselvesontheroughbenchwhichadjoinedthebleaching-ground.Theywouldhavetheirdinneratthevillageordinary--letnotMr.Sempillputhimselfabout--theywouldneverhavecomethusunannouncediftheyhadthoughtthattheywouldbepressedtoameal.ButtheyallowedthemselvestobepersuadedbythehospitableclamourofIsobel,whosawinsuchafunctiononherfirstdayatthemanseasocialaggrandizement."Mr.Sempillwouldthinkblackburnin’shameifthegentlemendidnabreakbreid...."Therewaswaltho’provenderinthehouse--thismomentshehadputaheninthepot--shehadabraceofmuir-fowlreadyforbranderingthathadbeensentfromChasehopethatverymorn....Thethreesmiledtolerantlyandhopefully."Ye’vegottenarareAbigail,Mr.Sempill.Awomano’menseandsense--themanseo’Woodileewillbewellguidit."
TheReverendMungoMuirheadhadavastshavenfacesetatopofathickneckandacumbrousbody.Hehadabigthin-lippedmouthwhichshuttightlikealawyer’s,afleshynose,andlargegreyeyeswhichatmosttimeswereruminantasacow’s,butcouldonoccasionkindletoshrewdness.Hiscomplexionwaspale,andhewasfastgrowingbald,sotheimpressionatfirstsightwasofaperfectmountainofcountenance,asteepfieldofcolourlessskin.AsministerofKirkAllerhewasthemetropolitanofthecompany,andasbecameatownsmanheworedecentblackwithbands,andboastedahat.
