Заборонений ліс
XVIII. The Plague
"Youarenofriendofmine,EphraimCaird,butIgiveyouthepraiseofastoutheart."
"WhyshouldIbefeared?"theotherasked."WhyshouldIdreadtowalkeveninthevalleyofdeathifHisrodandstaffaretheretocomfortme?"
"Whyshouldyou!Butmanyprofessorsareofadifferentmind."
"Theyarebutpoorprofessors,then.Ifearnoill,forIamintheLord’shandtillHisappointedtime."
"Butmanywhodonotfeardeathfeartodiebythepest."
"Ay,butIhavemyassurance.IhavetheLord’sownpromise,Mr.Sempill.IkenasweelthatnopestcantouchmeasthatmynameisEphraimCairdandmyhabitationisChasehope.It’sthelacko’sounddoctrinethatgarsfolkturncowards--theydinnalippenenoughtotheLord--theyhavenaafirmenoughgripo’theircallingandelection.Ihavemycompactsure,andIkenthattheLordwillnogiemeaback-cast.Icanrejoiceeveninthissoreaffliction,forHehathdemandedasacrifice,andwhatismantoquestionHiswill?DearinHissightisthedeathofHissaints--ay,andofsinners,too,forHisjudgmentsarenotexhausted.There’smairtocome,Mr.Sempill--taketento’that,sir--theconvictionisheavyonmethatthewindo’Hisdispleasurehasstillablasttoblaw."
Thepaleeyeshadalmostthegreenofacat’sinthedimlight,andthebaldbrowsabovegavethewholefacetheairofamask,whichatanymomentmightslipandrevealnightmarelineaments.Thechildinthebedlookedupashespoke,sawhisfaceandscreamedinterror,andKatrine,afteroneglancebehindher,wasbusiedincrooningconsolations...