Запретный лес
XX. The Judgment
"Thatmattercanthereforebedismissed,"saidtheModerator,inavoiceinwhichsolemnitywrestledwithsatisfaction."Weproceedtothechargesagainstourunhappybrother."
Hesetforth--notunfairly--thecountsagainstDavid.TheprincipalwasthatabettingofmalignancywithwhichtheCourtwasalreadyfamiliar,andwhichDavidhadadmittedandjustified.Butheaddednewmatter.
"Ithascometomyknowledge,"hesaid,"throughthepraiseworthyvigilanceofourfriendChasehope,thatthereisfurtherincriminatingevidenceonthisscore.IntherecentmelancholyvisitationatWoodilee,ourbrotherwasguiltyofstrangedeedsandinstrangecompany.Itseemsthatheharledthepoorfolkoutoftheirbitsofdwellings,onthepleathatwhentheycrepttogethertheyfomentedthepest.Therebyitisallegedhespreadthetaintofthemalady,andsorelytroubledmanyadeath-bed.Further,heviolentlyandwrongfullybrokeopendoorsthatwerebarredtohimandsetfiretocot-houseswherethesickhadlain,therebydestroyinggearwhichwasnothisanddeprivingthefolkoftheirlawfulhabitations.Ihavehereanattestedstatementsettingforththewrongscomplainedof.Whatanswerdoyoumaketothat,Mr.Sempill?"
"Iadmittheacts,andreplythatbytheirmeansandbyGod’smercythepestwasstayed."
Therewasamurmurofdisapprovalthroughoutthegathering,andMr.MuirheadcastuphiseyestoHeaven.
