Мхи старої садиби

           "Butwithyourleave,friend,IshalltakeacutthroughthewoodsuntilwehaveleftthisChristianwomanbehind.Beingastrangertoyou,shemightaskwhomIwasconsortingwithandwhitherIwasgoing."

           "Beitso,"saidhisfellow-traveller."Betakeyoutothewoods,andletmekeepthepath."

           Accordinglytheyoungmanturnedaside,buttookcaretowatchhiscompanion,whoadvancedsoftlyalongtheroaduntilhehadcomewithinastaff’slengthoftheolddame.She,meanwhile,wasmakingthebestofherway,withsingularspeedforsoagedawoman,andmumblingsomeindistinctwords—aprayer,doubtless—asshewent.Thetravellerputforthhisstaffandtouchedherwitheredneckwithwhatseemedtheserpent’stail.

           "Thedevil!"screamedthepiousoldlady.

           "ThenGoodyCloyseknowsheroldfriend?"observedthetraveller,confrontingherandleaningonhiswrithingstick.

           "Ah,forsooth,andisityourworshipindeed?"criedthegooddame."Yea,trulyisit,andintheveryimageofmyoldgossip,GoodmanBrown,thegrandfatherofthesillyfellowthatnowis.But—wouldyourworshipbelieveit?—mybroomstickhathstrangelydisappeared,stolen,asIsuspect,bythatunhangedwitch,GoodyCory,andthat,too,whenIwasallanointedwiththejuiceofsmallage,andcinquefoil,andwolf’sbane."

           "Mingledwithfinewheatandthefatofanew-bornbabe,"saidtheshapeofoldGoodmanBrown.

           "Ah,yourworshipknowstherecipe,"criedtheoldlady,cacklingaloud.