Заборонений ліс
XIV. The Counterblast
Weel,that’sthetalethey’vegotten,andmayitstickintheirthrapples!I’mnofearedfortheirblethersaboutfairies,butwe’llneedsomestenchleestogetthesodger’sclaesblawnover.IwishIkennedwhawasthethief.I’llthreipthattheywereleftbyLeslie’sfolkandthatyekennednochtaboutthem."
"Porme,"saidDavid,"Ishalltelltheplaintruth,saveinthementioningofnames.Icommandyou,Isobel,todolikewise.Themanisbynowoutofdanger,andafalsehood,whichmaybepardonedifitistosaveanother,isblacksinifusedbyacowardtosavehimself."
Isobellookedathimuneasily."Therewillbeanawfu’speakintheparish,sir.Bethinkye,isitwisetogiesicahandletothemthatwadbringyedoun?...ButIseeyourmindismadeup,andnaewordso’minewillturnye.Wemaunhopethatthequestionwillneverbespeired,andIdauronymanorwummanintheplacetogetsaefarwi’measthespeirin’."
DuringDavid’sabsenceinEdinburghMr.Fordyce,bythecommandofthePresbytery,hadpreachedintheafternoonintheWoodileekirk--tobutscantyaudiences,forthenewsofMontrose’sadvancehadinclinedthepeopletokeepinsidetheirdoors.OnthefirstSabbathafterhisreturn,whentherewerestilltroopsintheplace,thepulpithadbeenoccupiedbyoneofLeslie’schaplains,astalwartmemberoftheChurchmilitant,whohailedfromtheMearns,andwhosespeechwasconsequentlyunderstoodwithdifficultyintheBorderparish.Butonthenext,whenMarkKerrhadgonefromhisrefugeintheWood,Davidchangedhismind,andhimselffilledthepulpit.