Заборонений ліс
III. Guests in Calidon Tower
IsitnotmorepleasingtoGodthatHisministersshouldcomfortthesickandthewidowandthefatherless,andguidesoulstoHeaven,thanthattheyshouldscrabbleforcivilpre-eminence?"
IntoDavid’smindcametwovisions--thatofthecomplacentministersofKirkAllerandBoldastheyhaddiscoursedatmeat,andthatoftheoldherdattheGreenshiel,sittingbyhisdeadwife.Thepicturesbelongedtodifferentworlds,andatthemomenthefeltthattheseworldswereeternallyapart.Hehadthedisquietingthoughtthattheonehadonlythehusksoffaith,andtheotherthegrain.Dimlyheheardthevoiceofthegroom."Iwillgiveyouatext,Mr.Sempill.’ThevineyardoftheLordofhostsisthehouseofIsrael,andthemenofJudahHispleasantplant;andHelookedforjudgment,butbeholdoppression;forrighteousness,butbeholdacry.’"
Hescarcelyrealizedthattheothershadsprungtotheirfeet,anditwasonlywhenNicholasHawkshawexclaimedthatheturnedhishead.
Agirlstoodbeforethem,thegirlwhohadopenedthedoor,butwhosefacehehadscarcelyseenatthetimeinthepoorlight.
"Katrine,mydear,you’vebeenlongofcoming."ItwasNicholaswhospoke."Ithoughtyouhadslippedofftoyourbed.Thisismysister’schild,sirs,whokeepsmecompanyinthisauldbarrack--RobertYester’sdaughter,himthatfellwithMonrointheyear’thirty-four.Youseethreegentlemen-troopersofLeven’s,mydear,andMr.Sempill,thenewministerofWoodilee.
