Заборонений ліс
XIII. White Magic
Thepeoplehemethadanairofreliefandgoodtemper,andlookedwithafriendlyeyeontheminister,forgettingapparentlytheLammascontroversiesandtheshutkirk,forhewasarepresentativeofthewinningcause.
PeterPennecuik,sittingonabigstoneoutsidethesmithy,wasthechiefdispenseroftidings.Hischeekswereswollenandhisvoicefalteredwithpride.
"Whatfordoyebideinyourtent,Mr.Sempill,inthishourofourdeliverance?TheytellmethatMr.EbenezerofBoldhasmountedhisbeastandriddenwi’thehorsementoharrytheungodly’sretreat.Ay,andbaithChasehopeandMirehopehaveta’entheroad,forthehailllandisfou’o’thewreckageofthewicked,asthesandso’theRedSeawerestrewedwi’thechariotso’Pharaoh.OurGeneralLeslieisnoanetoweakenintheguidcause,forthere’swordthathismusketeershaeshottheIrishinrowsontheYarrowhaughs,ilkaneasidehishowkitgrave,andthere’sordersthattheirwomenandbairns,whilkarenowfleein’tothehills,aretobeseizedbysuchasmeetwi’them,asdaughtersofHethandspawnofBabylon,andbedelivereduptoinstantjudgment.Eh,sir,buttheLordhasbeenexceedinggraciousus-ward,andourgriefsaremaistmarvellouslyavenged....Naedootye’llbeproclaimin’asolemnfastforpraiseandprayer."
Davidatehisdinnerwithaperturbedmind,forifthecountrysidewasbeingscouredforfugitivesonthisscale,itwasunlikelythatthemansewouldremainlonginviolate.ButIsobelreassuredhim."Theywadneverdaurripethehouse,andforthelaveIcanspeakthemfairinthegate.
