Запретный лес
XXI. The Going of the Minister
"
AmongthewomensittingontheflatgravestonestherewaslesstalkoftheKirkandmoreoftheminister.Mostwerebitteragainsthim.
"Theymayouthimandexcommunicatehim,"criedJeanoftheChasehope-foot,"butwhawillrestoremethebrawbairnthatdee’dinthepestwhilkwassenttopunishhim?Answermethat,kimmers.IwadbethebetterpleasedifIgotmytenfingersathisthrapple."
"Weelforyou,wumman,"saidanother,"thatIsobelVeitchisnohere,orit’syourainthrapplewouldsuffer."
"There’saqueertalecomeupthewaterwi’JohnnieDow,"saidathird."Therewastalk,yemind,o’alassiethathemetwi’intheWud,andwea’kenthattherewasalassiewi’himinthehinderdayso’thepest--thefairestface,somefolksay,thattheyeverlookedon."
"Tuts,gossip,yonwasnaelassie.Yonfacewasneverfleshandbluid.Itwasabogleooto’theWud,andsomesays--"Thespeakerloweredhervoiceandspokeintoherneighbour’sear.
"Bogleorno,AggieVicar,itcuredmyweeBenjie,andnaewordwillbespokeooto’mymouthagainstit.Thecallantisstillgreetingforanithersichto’thebonnyleddy."
"Haudyourtonguesandletmespeak.JohnnieDowsaysthePresbyteryhadita’riddledout,anditseemsitwasnaefairybutaleevin’lassie.Andwhathinkyeshewas?Naelessthantheyoungmistresso’Calidon."
Thewomenexclaimed,mostofthemincredulous.
"Butthat’snoa’.Itseemsthatsheandtheministerhadmadeitupthegitherandshewaspromisedtillhim.Mr.Fordyceo’CauldshawtelledthattothePresbytery.
