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minister； at Salem village？ Oh； his voice would make me tremble
both Sabbath day and lecture day。〃
Thus far the elder traveller had listened with due gravity； but
now burst into a fit of irrepressible mirth； shaking himself so
violently that his snake…like staff actually seemed to wriggle in
sympathy。
〃Ha！ ha！ ha！〃 shouted he again and again； then composing himself；
〃Well； go on； Goodman Brown； go on； but； prithee； don't kill me
with laughing。〃
〃Well； then； to end the matter at once；〃 said Goodman Brown；
considerably nettled； 〃there is my wife； Faith。 It would break
her dear little heart； and I'd rather break my own。〃
〃Nay； if that be the case；〃 answered the other； 〃e'en go thy
ways； Goodman Brown。 I would not for twenty old women like the
one hobbling before us that Faith should come to any harm。〃
As he spoke he pointed his staff at a female figure on the path；
in whom Goodman Brown recognized a very pious and exemplary dame；
who had taught him his catechism in youth； and was still his
moral and spiritual adviser； jointly with the minister and Deacon
Gookin。
〃A marvel； truly； that Goody Cloyse should be so far in the
wilderness at nightfall；〃 said he。 〃But with your leave； friend；
I shall take a cut through the woods until we have left this
Christian woman behind。 Being a stranger to you； she might ask
whom I was consorting with and whither I was going。〃
〃Be it so；〃 said his fellow…traveller。 〃Betake you to the woods；
and let me keep the path。〃
Accordingly the young man turned aside； but took care to watch
his companion； who advanced softly along the road until he had
come within a staff's length of the old dame。 She； meanwhile； was
making the best of her way； with singular speed for so aged a
woman； and mumbling some indistinct wordsa prayer；
doubtlessas she went。 The traveller put forth his staff and
touched her withered neck with what seemed the serpent's tail。
〃The devil！〃 screamed the pious old lady。
〃Then Goody Cloyse knows her old friend？〃 observed the traveller；
confronting her and leaning on his writhing stick。
〃Ah； forsooth； and is it your worship indeed？〃 cried the good
dame。 〃Yea； truly is it； and in the very image of my old gossip；
Goodman Brown； the grandfather of the silly fellow that now is。
Butwould your worship believe it？my broomstick hath strangely
disappeared； stolen； as I suspect； by that unhanged witch； Goody
Cory； and that； too； when I was all anointed with the juice of
smallage； and cinquefoil； and wolf's bane〃
〃Mingled with fine wheat and the fat of a new…born babe；〃 said
the shape of old Goodman Brown。
〃Ah； your worship knows the recipe；〃 cried the old lady； cackling
aloud。 〃So； as I was saying； being all ready for the meeting； and
no horse to ride on； I made up my mind to foot it； for they tell
me there is a nice young man to be taken into communion to…night。
But now your good worship will lend me your arm； and we shall be
there in a twinkling。〃
〃That can hardly be；〃 answered her friend。 〃I may not spare you
my arm； Goody Cloyse； but here is my staff； if you will。〃
So saying； he threw it down at her feet； where； perhaps； it
assumed life； being one of the rods which its owner had formerly
lent to the Egyptian magi。 Of this fact； however； Goodman Brown
could not take cognizance。 He had cast up his eyes in
astonishment； and； looking down again； beheld neither Goody
Cloyse nor the serpentine staff； but his fellow…traveller alone；
who waited for him as calmly as if nothing had happened。
〃That old woman taught me my catechism；〃 said the young man； and
there was a world of meaning in this simple comment。
They continued to walk onward； while the elder traveller exhorted
his companion to make good speed and persevere in the path；
discoursing so aptly that his arguments seemed rather to spring
up in the bosom of his auditor than to be suggested by himself。
As they went； he plucked a branch of maple to serve for a walking
stick； and began to strip it of the twigs and little boughs；
which were wet with evening dew。 The moment his fingers touched
them they became strangely withered and dried up as with a week's
sunshine。 Thus the pair proceeded； at a good free pace； until
suddenly； in a gloomy hollow of the road； Goodman Brown sat
himself down on the stump of a tree and refused to go any
farther。
〃Friend；〃 said he； stubbornly； 〃my mind is made up。 Not another
step will I budge on this errand。 What if a wretched old woman do
choose to go to the devil when I thought she was going to heaven：
is that any reason why I should quit my dear Faith and go after
her？〃
〃You will think better of this by and by；〃 said his acquaintance；
composedly。 〃Sit here and rest yourself a while； and when you
feel like moving again； there is my staff to help you along。〃
Without more words； he threw his companion the maple stick； and
was as speedily out of sight as if he had vanished into the
deepening gloom。 The young man sat a few moments by the roadside；
applauding himself greatly； and thinking with how clear a
conscience he should meet the minister in his morning walk； nor
shrink from the eye of good old Deacon Gookin。 And what calm
sleep would be his that very night； which was to have been spent
so wickedly； but so purely and sweetly now； in the arms of Faith！
Amidst these pleasant and praiseworthy meditations； Goodman Brown
heard the tramp of horses along the road； and deemed it advisable
to conceal himself within the verge of the forest； conscious of
the guilty purpose that had brought him thither； though now so
happily turned from it。
On came the hoof tramps and the voices of the riders； two grave
old voices； conversing soberly as they drew near。 These mingled
sounds appeared to pass along the road； within a few yards of the
young man's hiding…place； but； owing doubtless to the depth of
the gloom at that particular spot； neither the travellers nor
their steeds were visible。 Though their figures brushed the small
boughs by the wayside； it could not be seen that they
intercepted； even for a moment； the faint gleam from the strip of
bright sky athwart which they must have passed。 Goodman Brown
alternately crouched and stood on tiptoe； pulling aside the
branches and thrusting forth his head as far as he durst without
discerning so much as a shadow。 It vexed him the more； because he
could have sworn； were such a thing possible； that he recognized
the voices of the minister and Deacon Gookin； jogging along
quietly； as they were wont to do； when bound to some ordination
or ecclesiastical council。 While yet within hearing； one of the
riders stopped to pluck a switch。
〃Of the two； reverend sir；〃 said the voice like the deacon's； 〃I
had rather miss an ordination dinner than to…night's meeting。
They tell me that some of our community are to be here from
Falmouth and beyond； and others from Connecticut and Rhode
I