Заборонений ліс
XI. The Minister Girds up his Loins
Awa’hame,sir,andhumbleyoursel’onyourkneesandpraythatyemaybeforgiven....ImaycryoutinthewordsofthePsalmist,’Theyopenedtheirmouthwideagainstme,andsaidAha,oureyehathseenit.’"
David’shandclenchedonhisstaff."BeforeGod,"hecried,"Iwillstrikeyoudownifyouutteranotherblasphemousword.Youneglectmywarning?Thenyourpunishmentbeonyourownguiltyhead."
Heturnedandstrodeaway.OncehelookedbackandsawChasehopestillstaring,theveryimageofvirtuousdismay.
TherewasnosermoninthekirkthenexttwoSabbaths.Robbthebellmanhadordersnottoringthebell,butfewcametothekirkyardgate,fortherumourhadspreadthattheministerwouldconductnoordinancesuntilhehadtakencounselwiththePresbytery.Davidwaited,hopingforheknewnotwhat--somethawtomeltthisicyimpenitence.Atlast,onthesixteenthdayofAugust,herodetoKirkAllertovisitMr.Muirhead.
HefoundtheModeratorinhisparlourinthelittlestonemanse,whichstoodbelowthekirkontheknoweatthewestgateabovethebrigofAller.Theroomhadfewbooks,butamassofpapers,forMr.Muirheadwasanactiveecclesiasticandnotedforhisconductofchurchbusiness.Also,asiftomeetthedisturbedtimesinwhichhelived,apairofspurredboots,stillwiththemudonthem,stoodbesidethetable,onitlayabraceofancientpistols,andfromthepegofthedoorhungagreathorseman’scloak.
Mr.MuirheadbentapreoccupiedbrowonDavidasheentered,buthisfacewaswellcontent.
