Запретный лес
VII. The First Blast
Themattershouldbewithoutdelaylaidbeforehischiefelder,andthemonstroussuspicionwhichlurkedatthebackofhisminddispelled.Hewasawarethathisfacewasaspectacle,butitshouldnotbehidden,foritwaspartofhistestimony.ButatChasehopetherewasnoEphraimCaird.Theslatternlywifewhomethim,oldbeforehertime,withaclanofraggedchildrenatherheels,wasprofuseinregrets.Shedustedasettleforhim,andofferednewmilkandatasteofhercheese,butallthetimewithanobviousdiscomfort.TothinkthatEphraimshouldbeawaywhentheministercameupthehill!...HehadhadtorideoffthatmorntoKirkAlleruponamatterofabullthatJohnnieDavidsonhadbroughtfromCarlisle--anEnglishbulltoimprovethebreed--andhewouldnotbehometillthedarkening.Thewomanwasvolubleandhearty,butitseemedtoDavidthatsheprotestedtoomuch....Washerhusbandallthewhilebetweentheblanketsinthepress-bed?
Onhiswayback,attheturnoftheroadfromthekirkton,heencounteredDaftGibbie.Theidiothadthroughoutthewinterbeenasatelliteoftheminister,andhadhadmanyamealinthemansekitchen.Whentheymetitwas"Eh,mybonnyMr.Sempill,"or"mypreciousMr.David,"andthenanoutpouringofgrotesquebutcomplimentarytexts.ButnowthefirstnewshehadofGibbiewasasmallstonethatwhizzedpasthisear,andwhenheturnedhesawathreateningfigurewithafacetwistedintoademoniachate.Asecondstonefollowed,verywideofthemark,andwhenDavidthreatenedpursuit,theidiotshuffledoff,shoutingfilthoverhisshoulder.
