Мхи старой усадьбы

           Diditcontainwater,reddenedbytheluridlight?orwasitblood?or,perchance,aliquidflame?Hereindidtheshapeofevildiphishandandpreparetolaythemarkofbaptismupontheirforeheads,thattheymightbepartakersofthemysteryofsin,moreconsciousofthesecretguiltofothers,bothindeedandthought,thantheycouldnowbeoftheirown.Thehusbandcastonelookathispalewife,andFaithathim.Whatpollutedwretcheswouldthenextglanceshowthemtoeachother,shudderingalikeatwhattheydisclosedandwhattheysaw!

           "Faith!Faith!"criedthehusband,"lookuptoheaven,andresistthewickedone."

           WhetherFaithobeyedheknewnot.Hardlyhadhespokenwhenhefoundhimselfamidcalmnightandsolitude,listeningtoaroarofthewindwhichdiedheavilyawaythroughtheforest.Hestaggeredagainsttherock,andfeltitchillanddamp;whileahangingtwig,thathadbeenallonfire,besprinkledhischeekwiththecoldestdew.

           ThenextmorningyoungGoodmanBrowncameslowlyintothestreetofSalemvillage,staringaroundhimlikeabewilderedman.Thegoodoldministerwastakingawalkalongthegraveyardtogetanappetiteforbreakfastandmeditatehissermon,andbestowedablessing,ashepassed,onGoodmanBrown.Heshrankfromthevenerablesaintasiftoavoidananathema.OldDeaconGookinwasatdomesticworship,andtheholywordsofhisprayerwereheardthroughtheopenwindow."WhatGoddoththewizardprayto?"quothGoodmanBrown.