| "If
it be as thou gayest," replied Goodman
Brown, "I marvel they never spoke of
these matters; or, verily, I marvel not,
seeing that the least rumor of the sort would
have driven them from New England. We are
a people of prayer, and good works to boot,
and abide no such wickedness."
"Wickedness or not," said the
traveller with the twisted staff, "I
have a very general acquaintance here in
New England. The deacons of many a church
have drunk the communion wine with me;
the selectmen of divers towns make me their
chairman; and a majority of the Great and
General Court are firm supporters of my
interest. The governor and I, too--But
these are state secrets."
"Can this be so?" cried Goodman
Brown, with a stare of amazement at his
undisturbed companion. "Howbeit, I
have nothing to do with the governor and
council; they have their own ways, and
are no rule for a simple husbandman like
me. But, were I to go on with thee, how
should I meet the eye of that good old
man, our minister, at Salem Village? Oh,
his voice would make me tremble both Sabbath
day and lecture day."
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