Intheintervalofsilence，hestoleforward，untilthelight
　　glaredfulluponhiseyes。Atoneextremityofanopenspace，hemmed
　　inbythedarkwalloftheforest，arosearock，bearingsomerude，
　　naturalresemblanceeithertoanaltarorapulpit，andsurrounded
　　byfourblazingpines，theirtopsaflame，theirstemsuntouched，
　　likecandlesataneveningmeeting。Themassoffoliage，thathad
　　overgrownthesummitoftherock，wasallonfire，blazinghighinto
　　thenight，andfitfullyilluminatingthewholefield。Eachpendant
　　twigandleafyfestoonwasinablaze。Astheredlightaroseand
　　fell，anumerouscongregationalternatelyshoneforth，then
　　disappearedinshadow，andagaingrew，asitwere，outofthe
　　darkness，peoplingtheheartofthesolitarywoodsatonce。
　　“Agraveanddark-cladcompany！”quothGoodmanBrown。
　　Intruth，theyweresuch。Amongthem，quiveringtoandfro，between
　　gloomandsplendor，appearedfacesthatwouldbeseen，nextday，at
　　thecouncil-boardoftheprovince，andotherswhich，Sabbathafter
　　Sabbath，lookeddevoutlyheavenward，andbenignantlyoverthe
　　crowdedpews，fromtheholiestpulpitsintheland。Someaffirm，
　　thattheladyofthegovernorwasthere。Atleast，therewerehigh
　　dameswellknowntoher，andwivesofhonoredhusbands，andwidows，
　　agreatmultitude，andancientmaidens，allofexcellentrepute，and
　　fairyounggirls，whotrembledlesttheirmothersshouldespythem。
　　Eitherthesuddengleamsoflight，flashingovertheobscurefield，
　　bedazzledGoodmanBrown，orherecognizedascoreofthe
　　church-membersofSalemvillage，famousfortheirespecialsanctity。
　　GoodoldDeaconGookinhadarrived，andwaitedattheskirtsofthat
　　venerablesaint，hisreverendpastor。But，irreverentlyconsorting
　　withthesegrave，reputable，andpiouspeople，theseeldersofthe
　　church，thesechastedamesanddewyvirgins，thereweremenof
　　dissolutelivesandwomenofspottedfame，wretchesgivenoverto
　　allmeanandfilthyvice，andsuspectedevenofhorridcrimes。It
　　wasstrangetosee，thatthegoodshranknotfromthewicked，norwere
　　thesinnersabashedbythesaints。Scattered，also，amongtheir
　　palefacedenemies，weretheIndianpriests，orpowows，whohadoften
　　scaredtheirnativeforestwithmorehideousincantationsthanany
　　knowntoEnglishwitchcraft。
　　“But，whereisFaith？”thoughtGoodmanBrown；and，ashopecame
　　intohisheart，hetrembled。
　　Anotherverseofthehymnarose，aslowandmournfulstrain，such
　　asthepiouslove，butjoinedtowordswhichexpressedallthatour
　　naturecanconceiveofsin，anddarklyhintedatfarmore。
　　Unfathomabletomeremortalsistheloreoffiends。Verseafter
　　versewassung，andstillthechorusofthedesertswelledbetween，
　　likethedeepesttoneofamightyorgan。And，withthefinalpealof
　　thatdreadfulanthem，therecameasound，asiftheroaringwind，
　　therushingstreams，thehowlingbeasts，andeveryothervoiceof
　　theunconvertedwilderness，wereminglingandaccordingwiththevoice
　　ofguiltyman，inhomagetotheprinceofall。Thefourblazing
　　pinesthrewupaloftierflame，andobscurelydiscoveredshapesand
　　visagesofhorroronthesmoke-wreaths，abovetheimpiousassembly。At
　　thesamemoment，thefireontherockshotredlyforth，andformeda
　　glowingarchaboveitsbase，wherenowappearedafigure。With
　　reverencebeitspoken，theapparitionborenoslightsimilitude，both
　　ingarbandmanner，tosomegravedivineoftheNewEnglandchurches。
　　“Bringforththeconverts！”criedavoice，thatechoedthrough
　　thefieldandrolledintotheforest。
　　Attheword，GoodmanBrownsteppedforthfromtheshadowofthe
　　trees，andapproachedthecongregation，withwhomhefeltaloathful
　　brotherhood，bythesympathyofallthatwaswickedinhisheart。He
　　couldhavewellnighsworn，thattheshapeofhisowndeadfather
　　beckonedhimtoadvance，lookingdownwardfromasmoke-wreath，whilea
　　woman，withdimfeaturesofdespair，threwoutherhandtowarnhim
　　back。Wasithismother？Buthehadnopowertoretreatonestep，
　　nortoresist，eveninthought，whentheministerandgoodold
　　DeaconGookinseizedhisarms，andledhimtotheblazingrock。
　　Thithercamealsotheslenderformofaveiledfemale，ledbetween
　　GoodyCloyse，thatpiousteacherofthecatechism，andMarthaCarrier，
　　whohadreceivedthedevil’spromisetobequeenofhell。Arampant
　　hagwasshe！Andtherestoodtheproselytes，beneaththecanopyof
　　fire。
　　“Welcome，mychildren。”saidthedarkfigure，“tothecommunion
　　ofyourrace！Yehavefound，thusyoung，yournatureandyourdestiny。
　　Mychildren，lookbehindyou！”
　　Theyturned；andflashingforth，asitwere，inasheetofflame，
　　thefiend-worshipperswereseen；thesmileofwelcomegleameddarkly
　　oneveryvisage。
　　“There。”resumedthesableform，“areallwhomyehavereverenced
　　fromyouth。Yedeemedthemholierthanyourselves，andshrankfrom
　　yourownsin，contrastingitwiththeirlivesofrighteousness，and
　　prayerfulaspirationsheavenward。Yet，herearetheyall，inmy
　　worshippingassembly！Thisnightitshallbegrantedyoutoknowtheir
　　secretdeeds；howhoary-beardedeldersofthechurchhavewhispered
　　wantonwordstotheyoungmaidsoftheirhouseholds；howmanyawoman，
　　eagerforwidow’sweeds，hasgivenherhusbandadrinkatbed-time，
　　andlethimsleephislastsleepinherbosom；howbeardlessyouth
　　havemadehastetoinherittheirfather’swealth；andhowfair
　　damsels-blushnot，sweetones-haveduglittlegravesinthe
　　garden，andbiddenme，thesoleguest，toaninfant’sfuneral。By
　　thesympathyofyourhumanheartsforsin，yeshallscentoutall
　　theplaces-whetherinchurch，bed-chamber，street，field，orforest-
　　wherecrimehasbeencommitted，andshallexulttobeholdthewhole
　　earthonestainofguilt，onemightyblood-spot。Farmorethanthis！
　　Itshallbeyourstopenetrate，ineverybosom，thedeepmysteryof
　　sin，thefountainofallwickedarts，andwhichinexhaustiblysupplies
　　moreevilimpulsesthanhumanpower-thanmypoweratitsutmost-
　　canmakemanifestindeeds。Andnow，mychildren，lookuponeach
　　other。”
　　Theydidso；and，bytheblazeofthehell-kindledtorches，the
　　wretchedmanbeheldhisFaith，andthewifeherhusband，trembling
　　beforethatunhallowedaltar。
　　“Lo！thereyestand，mychildren。”saidthefigure，inadeepand
　　solemntone，almostsad，withitsdespairingawfulness，asifhisonce
　　angelicnaturecouldyetmournforourmiserablerace。“Dependingupon
　　oneanother’shearts，yehadstillhopedthatvirtuewerenotalla
　　dream！Nowareyeundeceived！Evilisthenatureofmankind。Evilmust
　　beyouronlyhappiness。Welcome，again，mychildren，tothe
　　communionofyourrace！”
　　“Welcome！”repeatedthefiend-worshippers，inonecryofdespair
　　andtriumph。
　　Andtheretheystood，theonlypair，asitseemed，whowereyet
　　hesitatingonthevergeofwickedness，inthisdarkworld。Abasinwas
　　hollowed，naturally，intherock。Diditcontainwater，reddenedby
　　theluridlight？orwasitblood？or，perchance，aliquidflame？
　　HereindidtheShapeofEvildiphishand，andpreparetolaythemark
　　ofbaptismupontheirforeheads，thattheymightbepartakersofthe
　　mysteryofsin，moreconsciousofthesecretguiltofothers，both
　　indeedandthought，thantheycouldnowbeoftheirown。The
　　husbandcastonelookathispalewife，andFaithathim。What
　　pollutedwretcheswouldthenextglanceshowthemtoeachother，
　　shudderingalikeatwhattheydisclosedandwhattheysaw！
　　“Faith！Faith！”criedthehusband。“LookuptoHeaven，andresist
　　theWickedOne！”
　　WhetherFaithobeyed，heknewnot。Hardlyhadhespoken，whenhe
　　foundhimselfamidcalmnightandsolitude，listeningtoaroarofthe
　　wind，whichdiedheavilyawaythroughtheforest。Hestaggeredagainst
　　therock，andfeltitchillanddamp，whileahangingtwig，thathad
　　beenallonfire，besprinkledhischeekwiththecoldestdew。
　　Thenextmorning，youngGoodmanBrowncameslowlyintothestreet
　　ofSalemvillage，staringaroundhimlikeabewilderedman。Thegood
　　oldministerwastakingawalkalongthegraveyard，togetanappetite
　　forbreakfastandmeditatehissermon，andbestowedablessing，as
　　hepassed，onGoodmanBrown。Heshrankfromthevenerablesaint，asif
　　toavoidananathema。OldDeaconGookinwasatdomesticworship，and
　　theholywordsofhisprayerwereheardthroughtheopenwindow。“What
　　Goddoththewizardprayto？”quothGoodmanBrown。GoodyCloyse，
　　thatexcellentoldChristian，stoodintheearlysunshine，ather
　　ownlattice，catechisingalittlegirl，whohadbroughtherapint
　　ofmorning’smilk。GoodmanBrownsnatchedawaythechild，asfrom
　　thegraspofthefiendhimself。Turningthecornerbythe
　　meeting-house，hespiedtheheadofFaith，withthepinkribbons，
　　gazinganxiouslyforth，andburstingintosuchjoyatsightofhim，
　　thatsheskiptalongthestreet，andalmostkissedherhusband
　　beforethewholevillage。ButGoodmanBrownlookedsternlyandsadly
　　intoherface，andpassedonwithoutagreeting。
　　HadGoodmanBrownfallenasleepintheforest，andonlydreameda
　　wilddreamofawitch-meeting？
　　Beitso，ifyouwill。But，alas！itwasadreamofevilomenfor
　　youngGoodmanBrown。Astern，asad，adarklymeditative，a
　　distrustful，ifnotadesperateman，didhebecome，fromthenight
　　ofthatfearfuldream。OntheSabbath-day，whenthecongregation
　　weresingingaholypsalm，hecouldnotlisten，becauseananthemof
　　sinrushedloudlyuponhisear，anddrownedalltheblessedstrain。
　　Whentheministerspokefromthepulpit，withpowerandfervid
　　eloquence，andwithhishandontheopenBible，ofthesacredtruths
　　ofourreligion，andofsaint-likelivesandtriumphantdeaths，andof
　　futureblissormiseryunutterable，thendidGoodmanBrownturn
　　pale，dreadinglesttheroofshouldthunderdownuponthegray
　　blasphemerandhishearers。Often，awakingsuddenlyatmidnight，he
　　shrankfromthebosomofFaith，andatmorningoreventide，whenthe
　　familykneltdownatprayer，hescowled，andmutteredtohimself，
　　andgazedsternlyathiswife，andturnedaway。Andwhenhehad
　　livedlong，andwasbornetohisgrave，ahoarycorpse，followedby
　　Faith，anagedwoman，andchildrenandgrandchildren，agoodly
　　procession，besidesneighbors，notafew，theycarvednohopefulverse
　　uponhistombstone；forhisdyinghourwasgloom。