Запретный лес
IV. The Faithful Servant
Thistimetherumourswerestilldarker.ThatverymorningMr.MuirheadhadhadapostwhichspokeofMontroseravagingthelandsofthatlightoftheGospel,Argyll--ofhisfleeingnorth,and,atthemomentwhenhisdoomseemedassured,turningontheshoreofaHighlandsea-lochandscatteringtheCovenantarmy.Itwasthehourofperil,andthenationmusthumbleitselfbeforetheLord.AnationalfasthadbeendecreedbyParliament,anditwasresolvedtosetapartadayineachparishwhensomestoutdefenderofthefaithshouldcallthepeopletoexaminationandrepentance.Mr.ProudfootofBoldwasoneofthechosenvessels,anditwasagreedthatheshouldtakethesermononthefast-dayinWoodileeinthefirstweekofMarch.
ButDavidwasnowinadifferentmoodfromthatofNovember.HerepressedwithhorroranunregenerateadmirationforthisMontrose,who,itseemed,wasstillyoung,andwithahandfulofcateranshadlaidanironhandonthenorth.Hemightbeafinesoldier,buthewasbeyonddoubtasonofBelial.ThetroublewithDavidwasthestateofhisownparish,comparedwithwhichthesorrowsofArgyllseemeddimandfaraway.
January,afterthesnowsmelted,hadbeenmildandopen,withtheburnsrunningfullandred,andthehillsonevastplashingbog.WithCandlemascameablackfrost,whichlastedthewholeofFebruaryandthefirsthalfofMarch.Theworstofthewinterstringencywasnowapproaching.
