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XI. The Minister Girds up his Loins
"YouwouldsowdissensionintheKirkwhenitisnecessarytosetastoutfrontagainsttheKirk’soppressors."
"That,"saidDavidfirmly,"ismerecarnalpolicy.InthenameofGod,whosepurityisaflameoffire,wouldyouletgrosswickednessgouncheckedbecauseitmayknockasplinterofftheKirk?ItellyouitwerebetterthattheKirkshouldbebrokentodustandtrampledunderfootthanthatitshouldbemadeacloakforsin.Irefusetoobeyyou,Mr.Muirhead.NextSabbathIwillmakeeverywallinWoodileedirlundermyaccusation."
Thetwomenwereontheirfeet,Davidwhitewithwrath,andthefaceoftheothermottledwithalikepassion."Yourebelliousschismatic,"theministerofKirkAllercried,whenaknockatthedoorcalledbothtoasenseoftheproprieties.
Itwastheminister’sman,whoenteredwithaletterheldreverentlywiththetipsofhisfingers.
"Adispatch,sir,fromEmbro.Brochtthismomentbyamountedmessenger,whawouldnastayformeat,butmaunpostoffdounthewater."
Whenthemanretired,Mr.Muirhead,stillstandingandpuffingheavily,broketheseal.Heseemedtohavetroublewiththecontents,forhemovedhisspectacles,tookthemoffandrubbedthem,andthenre-readthemissive.Hiseyesstared,hisfacepaled,andthenatthelastperusalreddenedagain.HeturnedtoDavidinaflameoftemper.
"TheKirkmustsufferforyouandyourlike,"hecried."TheLordhadpreparedanabundantmercy,whilkhasbeendeniedusbecauseofthehardnessofourhearts
