Запретный лес
XII. The Man with the Squint
ButwhatamIclaverin’herefor,whenye’rewantin’yourdenner?It’slittleIhaeforye,forourmealarkisnightoom,andthere’snoakainhenleftonthebaulks."
ThatnightDavidsatlonginhisstudy.ItwasnowthesixteenthdayofSeptember,andthesultryweather,whichhadfosteredtheplague,wassharpeningtowardsautumn.Hehadreturnedfromhisfather’sdeath-bedinsomethingofthemoodinwhichhehadfirstenteredthemanse.TheconfusionintheStatewastohimonlyafar-offrumour;hewasnotgreatlyconcernedwhetherCovenantorKingwasa-top,forhehadnoassuranceastowhichhadtherightonitsside.Buthelongedforpeace,thathemightbeabouthisproperbusiness,forthechargeofWoodileelayheavyonhissoul.Thewickednessagainstwhichhehadragedseemednowtohimaspitifulasitwasterrible,acruelseductionofSatan’sagainstwhichhemustcontend,notwithoutpityfortheseduced.Charityfilledhim,andwithhisnewtendernesscamehope.Hecouldnotfailinthestrugglebeforehim--Godwouldnotpermithislittleonestobedestroyed.
Hadhenotforgottentheministerinthecrusader?Hisbookscaughthiseye--hehadtouchedthemlittleduringthesummer.Whathadbecomeofthatgreatwork,SempillonIsaiah?Hepulledouthismanuscriptnotesandforalittlewashappyintheircontemplation....Theday’sridehadbeenlongandthesunhadbeenhot.Hisheadnodded,thendroppedonhisarm,andhefellasleep.
Heawoketoasoundbelowthewindow.
