Запретный лес
VIII. The Second Blast
HehadnodoubtthattheDevilandhismyrmidonswerepresentintheWoodinbodilyform,minglingwiththeworshippers,andthatthetongueswhichhehadheardwereinverytruthmutteringsofthelost.Thereweretimeswhenordinaryhumanfearloosenedhisknees,andhelongedtofleefromtheparishasfromaplaceaccursed.Buthiscouragewouldreturn,andhisfaith,forheknewthatthearmiesofHeavenwereonhisside,andwrathwouldcastoutfear,wrathandhorrorattheseducersofhisflock.Neverthelessinthesedayshisnerveswerefrayed,helayawakeofnightslisteninganxiouslyfornoiseswithout,andhewouldawakesuddenlyinthesweatofanamelessterror.
Buthischiefburdenwasthathedidnotknowhowtoshapehiscourse.Thepulpitrangwithhisdenunciations,buttherewasnoresponse;nostrickenNicodemuscametohimbynight.Ontheroadsandatthehouse-doorspeopleavoidedhiseyes.TherewerenomorestonesfromDaftGibbie--indeedGibbiehadresumedhisfawningfriendliness--butnonewaitedtospeakawordwithhim.Isobelhadrecoveredhercheerfulness,andsoughttoatoneforpastmisconductbyanassiduousattentiontohiscomforts,butAmosRitchieshunnedhim.Andthechildren,too,whohadbeenhischiefallies.Perhapstheirparentshadwarnedthem,foragroupwouldscatterwhenhecamenear,andoncewhen,comingupbehindhim,helaidakindlyhandonaboy’shead,thechildburstintotearsandfled.WhatwasthefamaoftheministerwhichhadbeenputaboutinWoodilee?
Theworstofitwasthathecouldcontrivenoplanofcampaign.
