Мхи старої садиби

           "So,asIwassaying,beingallreadyforthemeeting,andnohorsetorideon,Imadeupmymindtofootit;fortheytellmethereisaniceyoungmantobetakenintocommunionto-night.Butnowyourgoodworshipwilllendmeyourarm,andweshallbethereinatwinkling."

           "Thatcanhardlybe,"answeredherfriend."Imaynotspareyoumyarm,GoodyCloyse;buthereismystaff,ifyouwill."

           Sosaying,hethrewitdownatherfeet,where,perhaps,itassumedlife,beingoneoftherodswhichitsownerhadformerlylenttotheEgyptianmagi.Ofthisfact,however,GoodmanBrowncouldnottakecognizance.Hehadcastuphiseyesinastonishment,and,lookingdownagain,beheldneitherGoodyCloysenortheserpentinestaff,buthisfellow-travelleralone,whowaitedforhimascalmlyasifnothinghadhappened.

           "Thatoldwomantaughtmemycatechism,"saidtheyoungman;andtherewasaworldofmeaninginthissimplecomment.

           Theycontinuedtowalkonward,whiletheeldertravellerexhortedhiscompaniontomakegoodspeedandpersevereinthepath,discoursingsoaptlythathisargumentsseemedrathertospringupinthebosomofhisauditorthantobesuggestedbyhimself.Astheywent,hepluckedabranchofmapletoserveforawalkingstick,andbegantostripitofthetwigsandlittleboughs,whichwerewetwitheveningdew.Themomenthisfingerstouchedthemtheybecamestrangelywitheredanddriedupaswithaweek’ssunshine.Thusthepairproceeded,atagoodfreepace,untilsuddenly,inagloomyhollowoftheroad,GoodmanBrownsathimselfdownonthestumpofatreeandrefusedtogoanyfarther.