Мхи старої садиби

           "Friend,"saidhe,stubbornly,"mymindismadeup.NotanotherstepwillIbudgeonthiserrand.WhatifawretchedoldwomandochoosetogotothedevilwhenIthoughtshewasgoingtoheaven:isthatanyreasonwhyIshouldquitmydearFaithandgoafterher?"

           "Youwillthinkbetterofthisbyandby,"saidhisacquaintance,composedly."Sithereandrestyourselfawhile;andwhenyoufeellikemovingagain,thereismystafftohelpyoualong."

           Withoutmorewords,hethrewhiscompanionthemaplestick,andwasasspeedilyoutofsightasifhehadvanishedintothedeepeninggloom.Theyoungmansatafewmomentsbytheroadside,applaudinghimselfgreatly,andthinkingwithhowclearaconscienceheshouldmeettheministerinhismorningwalk,norshrinkfromtheeyeofgoodoldDeaconGookin.Andwhatcalmsleepwouldbehisthatverynight,whichwastohavebeenspentsowickedly,butsopurelyandsweetlynow,inthearmsofFaith!Amidstthesepleasantandpraiseworthymeditations,GoodmanBrownheardthetrampofhorsesalongtheroad,anddeemeditadvisabletoconcealhimselfwithinthevergeoftheforest,consciousoftheguiltypurposethathadbroughthimthither,thoughnowsohappilyturnedfromit.

           Oncamethehooftrampsandthevoicesoftheriders,twograveoldvoices,conversingsoberlyastheydrewnear.Thesemingledsoundsappearedtopassalongtheroad,withinafewyardsoftheyoungman’shiding-place;but,owingdoubtlesstothedepthofthegloomatthatparticularspot,neitherthetravellersnortheirsteedswerevisible.