Запретный лес

           Hespokeonlyofweatherandcrops,buthismannersuggestedadesiretosaysomethingbywayofencouragement.Onlyatthemansegate,however,didhefindutterance."Ifthere’sdeepwaterstobecrossed,sir,I’llridethefordwi’ye,"hemutteredasheturnedaway.

           Presentlyitwasapparentthatachangehadcomeovertheparish.David’sdoingsinthesummerhadpuzzledandalarmedit;eventhosewithaclearconsciencehadthoughtofhimasadangertotheirpeaceandgoodrepute.Butnowthathewashimselfindiretrouble,andindictedbeforethePresbytery,therewasarevulsioninhisfavour;hisfriendlinesswasremembered,hiskindnessinthewinterstorms,hisgoodlooksandhisyouth.Hehadhisownpartyintheplace,apartycomposedofstrangeelements.TherewereinitnotedprofessorslikeRichieSmailandRabPrentice;Isobelandherkinwerehotonhisside;Reiverslaw,ofcourse,manyofthefrequentersofLuckyWeir’sale-house,andallwhofrompovertyormisdeedswerealittleblownupon.IfthePhariseesandScribeswereagainsthim,hehadthepublicansandsinners.Alsohehadthechildren.Bysomesecretchannelthewordhadgoneroundinthecirclesofchildhoodthattheirfriendwasintrouble,andinqueerwaystheyshowedtheiraffection.Thegirlswouldbringhimposies;bowlsofwildraspsandblaeberrieswouldbeleftatthemanse;andoftenonthedoorstepIsobelfoundanofferingofguddledtroutneatlystrungonrushes.DaftGibbie,too,hadbecomeapartisan.HewoulddogDavid’sfootsteps,andwhenspokentowouldonlyreplywithfriendlypawingsandincoherentgabble.