Запретный лес

           "

           Davidwaitedonlytostablehishorse,andtobuckleontheswordwithwhichhehadgirthimselfonthenightofthesecondBeltane.HeransofasttowardstheclachanthathewasatPeterPennecuik’shousebeforeIsobel,labouringinhiswake,hadturnedthecornerofthemanseloan.

           Thenighthadfallendark,butfrominsidethegirnelcameaflickeroflight.Davidhadoncebeforeseenawitchhunt--inLiberton,asaboy--andthentherehadbeenafuriousandnoisycrowdsurgingroundthechange-housewheretheaccusedwasimprisoned.ButtheWoodileemobwasnotlikethat.Itwassilent,almostfurtive.Thegranarywasalargebuilding,forithadoncebeenthebarnoftheMainsfarm;itwasbuiltofunmasonedstonecementedwithmud,andhadadeeproofofthatch;throughthechinksofbothwallsandroofcamethinstreamsoflight.Thespectatorsdidnotpressonthedoor,butstoodingroupssomepacesback,ashushedasinthekirkofaSabbath.ThelightwastoodimforDavidtorecognizefaces,buthesawthatonemanstoodatthedooraskeeper,andknewhimforReiverslaw.

           Hehadbeendrinking,andgreetedtheministerhilariously.

           "We’vegottenaneo’thecoven,"hewhisperedthickly,"aneyousawyoursel’intheWud."

           "ButChasehopeisamongheraccusers."

           "Iken,butwe’llgetthatkail-wormtoo,intheLord’sguidtime.Atonyrate,we’resureo’aneo’thedeevils."

           "Youfool,thisisatrickofChasehope’stodivertattentionfromtheWood.Thismiserablewomanhasonlyconfessedbairnlyfaults,andonthathe’llrideoffscotfree.