Запретный лес
XX. The Judgment
TheoldkirkonthebraeabovetheAllerbridgewascrowdedtoitsfull.NeverhadbeensolargeameetingofPresbytery,bothlayandclerical,forthecaseoftheministerofWoodileehadmadeagreattalkallwinterintheglens.Woodileeitself,nowpurgedofitstaint,wasstronglyrepresentedbyfourmembersofSession,andinaprominentplaceattheModerator’selbowsatEphraimCaird.AsDavidenteredheadswereaverted,butasheadvancedtotheseatprescribedforhimhefoundthatMr.Fordycewashisneighbour--Mr.Fordyceheavilymuffledinhisancientplaid,andwithafacewhoseordinarysickpallorseemedtobeflushedwithatimidexcitement.HeseizedDavid’shand,andhisownwashotandnervous,andhislipsmovedasifhewereprayingunderhisbreath.
Theforty-thirdPsalmwassung,thereweretwolengthyreadingsofScripture,andthenMr.Muirhead,theModerator,constitutedtheCourtandprayedforguidance.David’sattentionwandered,thoughhetriedtosupplementthepublicsupplicationwithhisown....Hiseyesseemedtohavebecomedistortedandthewholeassemblyhavegonecrooked.Thefathersandbrethrenwerenomorethanagatheringofdeath’sheads,theirvoiceswerelikethecreakingofwheelsandthescrapingofboughsandthegrindingofstones.TheModerator’smassivevisagewasthemaskbehindwhichhisbraintickedsmallandfoolishlikeaclock.TheministerofBoldwasonlyachild,apetted,noisychild.
