Мхи старой усадьбы

           Methoughtasshespoketherewastroubleinherface,asifadreamhadwarnedherwhatworkistobedonetonight.Butno,no;’twouldkillhertothinkit.Well,she’sablessedangelonearth;andafterthisonenightI’llclingtoherskirtsandfollowhertoheaven."

           Withthisexcellentresolveforthefuture,GoodmanBrownfelthimselfjustifiedinmakingmorehasteonhispresentevilpurpose.Hehadtakenadrearyroad,darkenedbyallthegloomiesttreesoftheforest,whichbarelystoodasidetoletthenarrowpathcreepthrough,andclosedimmediatelybehind.Itwasallaslonelyascouldbe;andthereisthispeculiarityinsuchasolitude,thatthetravellerknowsnotwhomaybeconcealedbytheinnumerabletrunksandthethickboughsoverhead;sothatwithlonelyfootstepshemayyetbepassingthroughanunseenmultitude.

           "TheremaybeadevilishIndianbehindeverytree,"saidGoodmanBrowntohimself;andheglancedfearfullybehindhimasheadded,"Whatifthedevilhimselfshouldbeatmyveryelbow!"

           Hisheadbeingturnedback,hepassedacrookoftheroad,and,lookingforwardagain,beheldthefigureofaman,ingraveanddecentattire,seatedatthefootofanoldtree.HearoseatGoodmanBrown’sapproachandwalkedonwardsidebysidewithhim.

           "Youarelate,GoodmanBrown,"saidhe."TheclockoftheOldSouthwasstrikingasIcamethroughBoston,andthatisfullfifteenminutesagone."

           "Faithkeptmebackawhile,"repliedtheyoungman,withatremorinhisvoice,causedbythesuddenappearanceofhiscompanion,thoughnotwhollyunexpected.