Запретный лес
XX. The Judgment
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Againfromtheassemblycameasoundlikesighing,butnowitseemedtohaveanoteofwrathinit,asifthebreathcamethroughclenchedteeth.TheModeratorshuthiseyesasiftowardoffanunbearablespectacle.ThenhelookeddownonDavidwithhisbrowsdrawnsothattheymadealinebisectinghisgreatface.
"Man,man,"hesaid,"youarefarfromChrist.Youconfessyoursin,butyouhugtoyourbosomonedarlinginiquitywhichyouproclaimagrace.Youareblindedandself-deluded,andIseenohopeforyouinthisworldorthenext.YouareanoutcastfromthecommonwealthofIsrael."
HeinclinedhisheadtoChasehope,whohadpluckedathisarmandnowsaidsomethinginhisear.
"Iamreminded,"hewenton."Malignancyisnotallthesumofthesinsofthisunhappyman.TherewasachargewhichIhadhopedtherewouldbenoneedtopress,butwhichinhisconditionofresoluteimpenitenceIamboundtobringforward.Hewasseenintheback-endtofrequenttheBlackWoodinthecompanyofawoman,anditisalleged--nay,itcanbeprovedbymanywitnesses--thatinhisdoubtfulworkduringthetimeofpestilenceawomanwasinhiscompany.Topublicsinshewouldseemtohaveaddedprivatelusts.Answerme,sir,asyouwillanswersomedaytoyourMaker,whoandwhatwasthewoman,andwhereisshetobefound?"
ThewordsscarcelypenetratedtoDavid’sbrain,forhehadalreadyslippedawayfromthecrowdofmoodyfacestohissecretworld.Butinthehushthatfollowedthequestionanothervoicespoke,avoicehigh-pitchedandtremulousbutasstartlingasatrumpet.
"SheiswiththeangelsinHeaven."Mr.
