Запретный лес
IX. Before Lammas
Thepointisfarfinerthanthat,sir.Iwillconstrueyourwords,forthereisaninterpretationofthemwhichisrankheresy."
Thetaskofconstruinganddistinguishingdidnotfarewell,foreveryfewminutestheteethofMr.Proudfootwereshakeninhisheadbyhishorse’svagaries.Hehadjustreachedapointofinordinatesubtlety,whenthetracktoBoldbranchedoff,andhisanimal,recognizingatlasttheroadhome,darteddownitataroughgallop.ThelastseenoftheministerofBoldwasamassivefigureswayinglikeashipinagale,andstill,ifonemighttrusttheechoesthewindbroughtback,distinguishingandconstruing.
EvenMr.Fordyce’sgravefacesmiledashewatchedthefleeingBoanerges.
"Heisawilfulman,andhehasawilfulbeast.Butwhatisthisrumourinthecountryside,Mr.David?IfearthatyouarefindingWoodileeadourrigtoplough."
"WhatdotheysayinCauldshaw?"
"Ihavebeenlittleaboutoflate,fortheselastweeksI’vebeensoretroubledwithmybowels.I’mlikethePsalmist--theLordtriethmyreinsinthenightwatches--andI’venevermadeoutmyvisittoyoutohaveareadofCardanus.ButIcannotbuthearorrabitsofnewsfromthenextparish,andthespeakinthecountrysideisthatyouhaveuncoveredthenakednessofWoodileeandpreachsiccansermonsthattheeenofthefolkturninwardintheirheads.What’sthetruthofit,Mr.David?Myheartyearnsoveryouasifyouweremyownmother’sson."
"Ihaveuncoveredagreatwickedness--butnotyetall.Iwaitandwatch,andwhenIhavefullerknowledgeIwillknowbetterhowtoact.
