Запретный лес

           Thewordtorturedhimandhecouldgetnorelieffromthinking,forthethingwasbeyondthought.Anoppressionofcomingdisasterweighedonhim.HetoldhimselfthathisenemyhadmeantnomorethanthePresbyterytrial,buthecouldnotlaytheghost.Somethingdarker,moreterrible,hungontheskirtsofhisimagination.Chasehopewasnodoubtmad,buttruthmightlurkinmadness;amaniacsawthatwhichwashiddenfromothers.ItwasforKatrinethathefeared,andwhathefearedhecouldnotgiveashapeto--therelaytheagonyofit.

           PresentlyhisolddreadoftheWoodreturned--thatdreadwhichhethoughthehadexorcisedforever.Hehaddefiedit,butwhatifitshouldprovetoostrongforhim?Inhisdistraughtthoughtsthepestilenceseemedtohavecomeoutofit--Chasehopehadmovedunscathedthroughtheweeksofplague--Chasehopeandthedevilsheservedweretheplague’smasters.Wastheresomeotherterrorstillinitsdepthswaitingtobeloosedonhim?Hehadmomentsofclear-sightedness,whenhedespisedhimselfforhisfolly,andrealizedthattobethusfaintofheartwastoacknowledgedefeatandtoabasehimselfbeforehisenemy.Buttheconvictionreturned,strongerthanwillorreason,andDavidwouldwalkthehillwithclenchedhandsandmutteringlips,orinhisclosetstruggleinblindprayerforacomfortthatwouldnotcome.

           AfterKatrine’snightlyvisitstoWoodileehadceasedtheministerhadmeanttogodailytoCalidon.Butwiththisnewmoodofterroruponhimhewasashamedtofacethegirl;andhehadsufficientmanhoodtoputrestraintuponhislongings.