XIX. The Sacrifice

           AsMarchdrewtoitsclosethewheelsoflifebeganonceagaintoruncreakinglyinWoodilee.Thefrostdisappearedunderaweekofsouthwesterlygales,andthenthewindmovedtotheeastandblewdryandblighting,sothattheleanbeastsshiveredintheinfields.Thegrossunseasonableherbageofthewinterhadgone,anditpromisedtobeabackwardspring.Themenwentoutfeeblytothefarm-work,andtheploughingbegan,thoughthedraught-oxenweresopoorinconditionthattheworkmovedslowly.Thesiege,too,wasraised.JohnnieDowonceagainshowedhiscautiousfaceintheclachanandbroughtnewsoftheouterworld;thepack-horsesagainstruggledthroughCarnwathMoss;andtherecamewordfromKirkAllerthatthemeetingofthePresbyterytoadjudicateonDavid’scasewasfixedforadayinApril.Mr.JamesrodeoverfromCauldshawandthekirkwasopened,butDaviddidnotrenewhispreachingsatthekirkyardgate.

           Thetruthisthathewaswearytothebone.MarkRiddelmethimonemorningontheroadanddrewreinsharplyatthesightofhisface.

           "ManDavid,you’relikeaghost.You’veworkedyourbodyowersoretheselastmonths,andifyoudinnatakecareyou’llbeonyourback.YouandKatrinearetwoinconsideratebairns.You’vebothofyoudonetheworkoftenmen,andyou’llnolistentowiserfolk.Takemyadviceandgetfurthofthiswoefulparishtillyourbodyisrestedandyourmindquieter."

           "IamsummonedtomytrialatKirkAllerinaweek’stime."

           "Andthat’sthecrownofit!That’swhatyougetforwearingyourselftoskinandboneforathanklessfolk.