Заборонений ліс
XVI. The Witch Hunt
--Yecangetonymortaldaftnessouto’manorwomanifyefirstputfearonthem.Ye’veseentheauldwifeandye’veseenthepricker.Doyoucomeforritforenentthelicht.Ye’reabuirdlychiel,andweelspokeno’forcanniness.Yecankeepyourthumbsunraxedandyourhideunscorchedforme,butbytheGodabuneusI’llwarrantthatintenminutesbytheknockI’llhaeyeconfessin’fautsthatwillkeepthehaillparishwaukrifetillYule....Willyetholethetrial?"
Thebigmanshrankback."Na,na.IkennawhatspelltheDeilhasgienye,butye’llnolayitonme."
"Somucklethebetterforyoursel’."Markturnedtotheothers."Ye’vea’seen,neighbours,thatmyspell,asheca’sit,wasnaemairthanjustanhonestspeirin’.I’mlothtothinkthatthisclachanshouldsufferforwhathasbeendonethisday,sothesoonerwegetthewifetobedandweel-tendedthebetterforusa’."
"Sheshallgotothemanseatonce,"saidDavid.Hehadbeenexaminingthetorturedwoman,whohadpassedintounconsciousness,anditseemedtohimthatherheartbeatveryfaintly.
"Thatwillbewisest,nodoubt,"saidMark,butatthispointChasehopefoundsupportinhisprotest.Mirehope,NetherFennan,andthemillerexchangedanxiouslooks.
"TakehertoAlisonGeddie,"theycried."Shehasatoom[empty]bed,andit’snearby."
"Shewillgotomyownhouse,"saidDavid,"andbenursedbymyownhand.Itrustnomanorwomanofyouafterto-day’sdevilry."
Theplacehadfilledup,anditseemedtohimthatthebetterpartoftheparishwerenowonlookers.