Запретный лес
I. The Coming of the Minister
TheMirehopecattle,wretchedlittleblackbeasts,weregrazingunderthechargeofaherd-boy,andtheMirehopesheep,theircoatsmattedwithtartilltheylookedlikemonstrousslugs,werepickingupanuneasylivelihoodamongtheheatherbushes,leavingtuftsofsmellywoolbehindthemonthescraggytwigswhichwerestillcharredfromtheMarchmoorburn.Hereachedthelowsummit,andflunghimselfdownonapatchofthymyturfbetweenthewhinstonescrees,withhisfacetothevalley.
Hisholidaymoodstillheld.Thevisitofhisministerialbrethrenhadnotdashedhim,forhesawtheirprosinessthroughagoldenhaze.Mr.MuirheadwasastoutwarderonthewallsofSion,Mr.ProudfootaguardianofthepurityoftheTemple,andMr.Fordycebeyondquestionasaint,withhishaggardfaceandhiswistfuleyes.ItwasMr.Fordycewhostuckinhismemory.Alovablesaint,withhiscastteethsaveduptomakeeasythebusinessofabodilyresurrection,hisloveofthestars,hispatheticbookishness.Davidwasfullofthezestofhiscalling,butforhimselfhewasreadytocircumscribeitsduties.NotforhimtoupholdtheKirkagainstitsill-wishersintheState;inthatcausehewoulddobattlewhentheneedarose,butnottillthen.Helefttoothersthetaskofkeepingthecanonoftruthpurefromalloy:heacceptedtheKirk’sdoctrineloyally,butletothersdothedogmatizing.Theworkforwhichhelongedwastosaveandcomforthumansouls.
SeenonthathilltoptheministerofWoodileewasadifferentfigurefromthatbeheldbyhiscolleaguesinthedimlightofthemanse.
