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XX. The Judgment
Thegravecountenancesaroundhimseemedshotwithfearandconfusion:almostitseemedhecouldlookintotheirheartsandseeterrorsandjealousieswrithinglikecoilsofworms....Herubbedhiseyesandforcedhimselftoattention.TheModeratorwasspeakingofthechargeagainstChasehopeandothersanenttheWood.
"Wehaveyourwrittenlibel,Mr.Sempill,"hesaid."Itisyourrighttoimplementitbythecallingofwitnesses.Haveyouthemhere?"
"Myprincipalwitness,AndrewShillinglawinReiverslaw,haslefttheparishbecauseofthepestandisnotyetreturned.WithouthimIcandonothing."David’svoice,tohisownsurprise,cameoutfullandclear.
"Doyouseekapostponement?"
Davidshookhishead."Whatbootsit?TheLordwilljudgethewickednessinHisowntimeandinHisownway.ButIwouldaskthatthematterbeputtohimwhomIhaveaccusedasprincipal,andthathedenyoraffirmitonhissolemnoath."
"Youhearthat,Ephraim,"saidMr.Muirhead."I’mlothtoputsuchataskononeofyournotedgodlywalk,butitwouldmaybeconducetothesatisfactionoftheCourtifyouwouldformallyandfinallygivethesemonstrouschargesasolemndenial."
ChasehoperoseandcalledhisMakertowitnessthattherewasnowordoftruthintheaccusation.Hisvoicewassteady,hisexpressionofadecentgravity.HelookedtowardsDavid,andtherewasnotaquiverinthelargeplacidityofhisface.
"TheCourtiscontent,"saidMr.Muirhead."Haveyouanythingtoadd,Mr.Sempill?"
"TheLordwillyetjudgebetweenus,"saidDavid.
