Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
Atherbackappearedthefieryheadofthevisitor,whowasthatEphraimCairdwhomMr.MuirheadhadalreadypraisedasapillaroftheCovenantandwhofarmedthelargesttackintheparish.Hewasabigfellow,redasafox,withawhitefreckledface,noeyebrows,andgreenishblueeyes,amanofoverforty,whosemuscularframewasnowsomewhatoverlaidbyflesh.Hismouthwassmallandgenerallypuckeredtogether,ahabitwhichgavehimanairofthoughtandgravity.HehadbeenanopponentofDavidSempillbeforethecall,buthadacquiescedinthemajorityvoteandhadwelcomedthenewministeratthe"preachingin"withagreatshowofgoodwill.To-dayhewasapologeticandaffable.Heaskedpardonforhisintrusion--hewouldtakeneitherbitenorsup--hehadheardthattheministerswereatthemanse,andhebeggedawordwithMr.MuirheadonPresbyterymatterswhichwouldsavehimajourneytoKirkAller,whenhewasbusywiththeboghay.SoDavidtooktheothertwotohisclosetandleftChasehopeandMr.Muirheadtotheircolloquy.
Mr.Proudfooteyedwithdisapprovalthebooksinthelittledarkchamber.Hewascontent,hesaid,withtheBibleandtheInstitutesofJohnCalvinandoldRobertRollock’scommentaryontheProphetDaniel.Hereadtheletteringononevolume,SanctiClementiOpera,andonanother,aworkbyaDutchtheologian,DeSanctiPauliEpistolis.Theword"Saint"rousedhisire."RagsofPopery,"hemuttered,ashebangedthebooksbackontheirshelves.
