Запретный лес
XIV. The Counterblast
IwouldbeafaithlessguardianofthesheepfoldifIdidnaprobeittoitsbottom.Thiscomplaintmustgoforward.--Meantime,tillthePresbyteryhasadjudgedit,IforbidyoutoconducttheordinancesinthekirkofWoodilee.Iwillappointsomeworthierperson,lestthepuregospelmilkonyourlipsbeturnedtopoison."
"Irefusetoobeyyou,"saidDavid,"foryouhavenopowertocommand.Istandonmyrightstocontinuemyministrationstillsuchtimeasthelawfulauthoritysetsmeaside.MeantimeIrequirethatmychargeagainstChasehopegotothePresbyteryequallywithhischargeagainstme."
Mr.Muirheadwasonhisfeet,withthefamousgloweronhisfacewhichhadaforetimeawedtimidbrethren.ItdidnotaweDavid,whogavehimbackstareforstarewitharesolutiontowhichhewaslittleaccustomed.Indeedthevigorousyouthofhisantagonistandsomethinginthesetjawmadetheeldermanpause.Heshuffledoffasiftoendtheinterview,andDavidstrodefromthehousewithunseeingeyesandaburningheart.
Allthewayhomehisheadwasfilledwithaconfusionofangrythoughts.Hesawhimselfcaughtintoilsatonceabsurdandperilous.Hecouldimaginetheprejudicewhichhisshelteringofthefugitivewouldraiseagainsthim;hesawhisindictmentofChasehopenullifiedbythislegendofhisownvisitstotheWood;aboveall,thebringinginofKatrinemadehimclenchhishandswithasenseoffurioussacrilege.Inthatmomentheseemedtohimselflikeachildwithoutfriendsbatteringatawallasbroadastheearthandashighastheheavens...
