Мхи старої садиби

           "

           "Toofar!toofar!"exclaimedthegoodman,unconsciouslyresuminghiswalk."Myfatherneverwentintothewoodsonsuchanerrand,norhisfatherbeforehim.WehavebeenaraceofhonestmenandgoodChristianssincethedaysofthemartyrs;andshallIbethefirstofthenameofBrownthatevertookthispathandkept—"

           "Suchcompany,thouwouldstsay,"observedtheelderperson,interpretinghispause."Wellsaid,GoodmanBrown!IhavebeenaswellacquaintedwithyourfamilyaswitheveraoneamongthePuritans;andthat’snotrifletosay.Ihelpedyourgrandfather,theconstable,whenhelashedtheQuakerwomansosmartlythroughthestreetsofSalem;anditwasIthatbroughtyourfatherapitch-pineknot,kindledatmyownhearth,tosetfiretoanIndianvillage,inKingPhilip’swar.Theyweremygoodfriends,both;andmanyapleasantwalkhavewehadalongthispath,andreturnedmerrilyaftermidnight.Iwouldfainbefriendswithyoufortheirsake."

           "Ifitbeasthousayest,"repliedGoodmanBrown,"Imarveltheyneverspokeofthesematters;or,verily,Imarvelnot,seeingthattheleastrumorofthesortwouldhavedriventhemfromNewEngland.Weareapeopleofprayer,andgoodworkstoboot,andabidenosuchwickedness."

           "Wickednessornot,"saidthetravellerwiththetwistedstaff,"IhaveaverygeneralacquaintancehereinNewEngland.Thedeaconsofmanyachurchhavedrunkthecommunionwinewithme;theselectmenofdiverstownsmakemetheirchairman;andamajorityoftheGreatandGeneralCourtarefirmsupportersofmyinterest.