Мхи старої садиби

           Thoughtheirfiguresbrushedthesmallboughsbythewayside,itcouldnotbeseenthattheyintercepted,evenforamoment,thefaintgleamfromthestripofbrightskyathwartwhichtheymusthavepassed.GoodmanBrownalternatelycrouchedandstoodontiptoe,pullingasidethebranchesandthrustingforthhisheadasfarashedurstwithoutdiscerningsomuchasashadow.Itvexedhimthemore,becausehecouldhavesworn,weresuchathingpossible,thatherecognizedthevoicesoftheministerandDeaconGookin,joggingalongquietly,astheywerewonttodo,whenboundtosomeordinationorecclesiasticalcouncil.Whileyetwithinhearing,oneoftheridersstoppedtopluckaswitch.

           "Ofthetwo,reverendsir,"saidthevoicelikethedeacon’s,"Ihadrathermissanordinationdinnerthanto-night’smeeting.TheytellmethatsomeofourcommunityaretobeherefromFalmouthandbeyond,andothersfromConnecticutandRhodeIsland,besidesseveraloftheIndianpowwows,who,aftertheirfashion,knowalmostasmuchdeviltryasthebestofus.Moreover,thereisagoodlyyoungwomantobetakenintocommunion."

           "Mightywell,DeaconGookin!"repliedthesolemnoldtonesoftheminister."Spurup,orweshallbelate.Nothingcanbedone,youknow,untilIgetontheground."

           Thehoofsclatteredagain;andthevoices,talkingsostrangelyintheemptyair,passedonthroughtheforest,wherenochurchhadeverbeengatheredorsolitaryChristianprayed.