Запретный лес

           ItwasclearthataconsiderablenumberwereonChasehope’sside,forthementionofthemansehadwakenedacuriousdisquietinmanyfaces.Davidsolvedtheproblembydraggingoutfromthebackofthegranaryawoodensledgeusedfordrawingpeats.Hecovereditwithstrawandlaidthewomanonit.

           "Reiverslaw!"hecried."YoutaketheoneendandI’lltaketheother."

           Thefarmeradvanced,andforaseconditlookedasifhemightbepreventedbyforce.Heturnedfierceeyesonthecrowd."Ay,sir.I’lldaeyourbidding....Andifonymanliftshishandtopreventme,he’llgetasarkfu’o’brokenbanes."

           Thestrangecortègemovedoutintothedarkness,withoutopposition.Itmayhavebeenthehonestfeelingofthemajoritythatletitgo;itmayhavebeenthetruculentReiverslaw,orDavidwithhiswhitefaceandtheswordbobbingathisbelt:butmostlikelyitwasthefactthatMarkRiddelwalkedbytheminister’sside.

           BessieTodddiedjustbeforemorning.Isobelreceivedheroldgossipwithtearsandlamentations,laidherinthebestbed,washedandsalvedherwounds,andstrovetoreviveherwithcordials.Butthetrialhadbeentoohardforafrailwomanfardowninthevaleofyears.Davidwatchedallnightbyherbedside,andthoughattheendshebecameconscious,hermindwashopelesslyunhinged,andshebabblednonsenseandscrapsofchildishrhymes.Ifhecouldnotpraywithher,heprayedbesideher,pleadingpassionatelyforthedepartingsoul.

           AsIsobelstraightenedthebodyandclosedtheeyes,sheaskedanxiouslyiftherehadbeenanyspacegivenforrepentance.

           Davidshookhishead