Запретный лес
X. What the Moon Saw
"Aforewepart,waditnobeweelforyoutopitupaprayer?"
Theministerprayed--anditwasasifheconfessedalonetohisGodinhiscloset.Hehimselfwasstrengthenedbyit,andthecomfortofRichieandRabwasvisiblyenlarged.ButReiverslawstoodthroughthedevotionsinnoverydevoutposition,andfromhimcamenoneoftheresponseswhichflowedfromtheothers.Beforethe"Amen"hehadhisgoat-capon,andwaspeeringattherisingmoon.Hemadehisstaffsingashewhirledit.
Davidtookhisstrangeconfederate’shand,andhisownshook.Reiverslawnotedhistrepidation.
"Fearnocht,sir.It’llgangillwi’thewirriecowginwemeethim.Butwhatbrochtamano’peacelikeyouintothistuilzie?"
"JealousyforthehonourofmyGod.Andyou?Foritislessyourquarrelthanmine."
Themangrinned."WriteitdownthatAndraShillinglawcouldnaseeanhonestmanbeat,andthathedidnalikekail-worms."
Davidhadmanytimesgoneoverinhismindtheroutetothegladeofthealtar,andhadcomparednoteswithReiverslawthatverynight.Thedistancewaslessthanthreemiles,andhehadacoupleofhourstoreachtheplaceandstillbeinpositionwellbeforemidnight.Asonallthenightsofthepastweek,theoppressivehazeofthedayhadlifted,andtheskyrosetoaninfiniteheight,thickstuddedwithstars,forthemoonwasonlynewrisen.Davidmadehiswaytothedividingglenbetweenthepinesandthehazelsinamiserabledisquiet.
