Мхи старой усадьбы

           ThegovernorandI,too—Butthesearestatesecrets."

           "Canthisbeso?"criedGoodmanBrown,withastareofamazementathisundisturbedcompanion."Howbeit,Ihavenothingtodowiththegovernorandcouncil;theyhavetheirownways,andarenoruleforasimplehusbandmanlikeme.But,wereItogoonwiththee,howshouldImeettheeyeofthatgoodoldman,ourminister,atSalemvillage?Oh,hisvoicewouldmakemetremblebothSabbathdayandlectureday."

           Thusfartheeldertravellerhadlistenedwithduegravity;butnowburstintoafitofirrepressiblemirth,shakinghimselfsoviolentlythathissnake-likestaffactuallyseemedtowriggleinsympathy.

           "Ha!ha!ha!"shoutedheagainandagain;thencomposinghimself,"Well,goon,GoodmanBrown,goon;but,prithee,don’tkillmewithlaughing."

           "Well,then,toendthematteratonce,"saidGoodmanBrown,considerablynettled,"thereismywife,Faith.Itwouldbreakherdearlittleheart;andI’dratherbreakmyown."

           "Nay,ifthatbethecase,"answeredtheother,"e’engothyways,GoodmanBrown.IwouldnotfortwentyoldwomenliketheonehobblingbeforeusthatFaithshouldcometoanyharm."

           Ashespokehepointedhisstaffatafemalefigureonthepath,inwhomGoodmanBrownrecognizedaverypiousandexemplarydame,whohadtaughthimhiscatechisminyouth,andwasstillhismoralandspiritualadviser,jointlywiththeministerandDeaconGookin.

           "Amarvel,truly,thatGoodyCloyseshouldbesofarinthewildernessatnightfall,"saidhe.