V. The Black Wood by Day

           Onthe22nddayofApriltheministerwentforawalkontheHillofDeer.HehadheardnewsfromIsobelwhichhadawakenedhisnumbedmemory.AllthelongdarkwinterWoodileehadbeenseveredfromtheworld,andDavidhadalsolivedinthecageandhadhadnothoughtsbeyondtheparish.Calidonanditspeoplewereaslittleinhismindasiftheyhadbeenonanotherplanet.Butasspringloosenedthebondswordoftheneighbourhood’sdoingswascomingin.

           "JohnnieDow’sbenthehouse,"Isobelhadsaidashesatatmeat."He’scomedownthewaterfraeCalidon,anditseemsthere’suncochangesthere.Thelairdisawa’tothewarsagain....Na,Johnniedidnakenwhatairthehadridden.Hegaedoffaemornin’wi’hismanTamPurves,baitho’themonmucklehorses,andthat’sthelastheardo’them.Itseemsthatthelaird’sgude-sister,MistressSaintserffraeEmbro,cam’ootafortnightsynetotak’chairgeo’Calidonandtheyounglassie--there’salassiebidesthere,yemaunken,sir,thoughnaneo’theWoodileefolkevercasteenonher--andthepuirbodywasliketobesmoored[smothered]intheCarnwathMoss.Johnniesaysshe’sanauldwumman,asstrauchtasawandandwi’anuncoilltongueinherheid.ShefleyedJohnnieawa’fraethedoorwhenhewasfordaffin’wi’theservinglasses."

           ItwasofCalidonthatDavidthoughtashetookthehill.NicholasHawkshaw,lameashewas,hadgonebacktothewars.Whatwars?RememberingthetalkofthatautumnnighthefearedthatitcouldnotbeacampaignofwhichaministeroftheKirkwouldapprove.