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ere　almost　intuitive；　and　when　the　minister　threwhis　startled　eyes　towards　him；　there　the　physician　sat；　his　kind；watchful；　sympathising；　but　never　intrusive　friend。　　Yet　Mr。　Dimmesdale　would　perhaps　have　seen　this　individual'scharacter　more　perfectly；　if　a　certain　morbidness；　to　which　sickhearts　are　liable；　had　not　rendered　him　suspicious　of　all　mankind。Trusting　no　man　as　his　friend；　he　could　not　recognise　his　enemy　whenthe　latter　actually　appeared。　He　therefore　still　kept　up　a　familiarintercourse　with　him；　daily　receiving　the　old　physician　in　hisstudy；　or　visiting　the　laboratory；　and；　for　recreation's　sake；watching　the　processes　by　which　weeds　were　converted　into　drugs　ofpotency。　　One　day；　leaning　his　forehead　on　his　hand；　and　his　elbow　on　the　sillof　the　open　window；　that　looked　towards　the　graveyard；　he　talkedwith　Roger　Chillingworth；　while　the　old　man　was　examining　a　bundleof　unsightly　plants。　　〃Where；〃　asked　he；　with　a　look　askance　at　them…　for　it　was　theclergyman's　peculiarity　that　he　seldom；　nowadays；　lookedstraight…forth　at　any　object；　whether　human　or　inanimate…　〃where；　mykind　doctor；　did　you　gather　those　herbs；　with　such　a　dark；　flabbyleaf？〃　　〃Even　in　the　graveyard　here　at　hand；〃　answered　the　physician；continuing　his　employment。　〃They　are　new　to　me。　I　found　them　growingon　a　grave；　which　bore　no　tombstone；　nor　other　memorial　of　the　deadman；　save　these　ugly　weeds；　that　have　taken　upon　themselves　to　keephim　in　remembrance。　They　grew　out　of　his　heart；　and　typify；　it　may　be；some　hideous　secret　that　was　buried　with　him；　and　which　he　had　donebetter　to　confess　during　his　lifetime。〃　　〃Perchance；〃　said　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　〃he　earnestly　desired　it；　butcould　not。〃　　〃And　wherefore？〃　rejoined　the　physician。　〃Wherefore　not；　since　allthe　powers　of　nature　call　so　earnestly　for　the　confession　of　sin；　thatthese　black　weeds　have　sprung　up　out　of　a　buried　heart；　to　makemanifest　an　unspoken　crime？〃　　〃That；　good　sir；　is　but　a　fantasy　of　yours；〃　replied　the　minister。〃There　can　be；　if　I　forebode　aright；　no　power；　short　of　the　Divinemercy；　to　disclose；　whether　by　uttered　words；　or　by　type　or　emblem；the　secrets　that　may　be　buried　with　a　human　heart。　The　heart；　makingitself　guilty　of　such　secrets；　must　perforce　hold　them　until　the　daywhen　all　hidden　things　shall　be　revealed。　Nor　have　I　so　read　orinterpreted　Holy　Writ；　as　to　understand　that　the　disclosure　of　humanthoughts　and　deeds；　then　to　be　made；　is　intended　as　a　part　of　theretribution。　That；　surely；　were　a　shallow　view　of　it。　No；　theserevelations；　unless　I　greatly　err；　are　meant　merely　to　promote　theintellectual　satisfaction　of　all　intelligent　beings；　who　will　standwaiting；　on　that　day；　to　see　the　dark　problem　of　this　life　made　plain。A　knowledge　of　men's　hearts　will　be　needful　to　the　pletest　solutionof　that　problem。　And　I　conceive；　moreover；　that　the　hearts　holdingsuch　miserable　secrets　as　you　speak　of　will　yield　them　up；　at　thatlast　day；　not　with　reluctance；　but　with　a　joy　unutterable。〃　　〃Then　why　not　reveal　them　here？〃　asked　Roger　Chillinginister。　〃Why　should　not　the　guilty　onessooner　avail　themselves　of　this　unutterable　solace？〃　　〃They　mostly　do；〃　said　the　clergyman；　griping　hard　at　his　breast；　asif　afflicted　with　an　importunate　throb　of　pain。　〃Many；　many　a　poorsoul　hath　given　its　confidence　to　me；　not　only　on　the　deathbed；　butwhile　strong　in　life；　and　fair　in　reputation。　And　ever；　after　suchan　outpouring；　oh；　what　a　relief　have　I　witnessed　in　those　sinfulbrethren！　even　as　in　one　who　at　last　draws　free　air；　after　longstifling　with　his　own　polluted　breath。　How　can　it　be　otherwise？　Whyshould　a　wretched　man；　guilty；　we　will　say；　of　murder；　prefer　tokeep　the　dead　corpse　buried　in　his　own　heart；　rather　than　fling　itforth　at　once；　and　let　the　universe　take　care　of　it？〃　　〃Yet　some　men　bury　their　secrets　thus；〃　observed　the　calm　physician。　　〃True；　there　are　such　men；〃　answered　Mr。　Dimmesdale。　〃But；　not　tosuggest　more　obvious　reasons；　it　may　be　that　they　are　kept　silent　bythe　very　constitution　of　their　nature。　Or…　can　we　not　suppose　it？…guilty　as　they　may　be；　retaining；　nevertheless；　a　zeal　for　God's　gloryand　man's　welfare；　they　shrink　from　displaying　themselves　black　andfilthy　in　the　view　of　men；　because；　thenceforward；　no　good　can　beachieved　by　them；　no　evil　of　the　past　be　redeemed　by　better　service。So；　to　their　own　unutterable　torment；　they　go　about　among　theirfellow…creatures；　looking　pure　as　new…fallen　snow；　while　theirhearts　are　all　speckled　and　spotted　with　iniquity　of　which　they　cannotrid　themselves。〃　　〃These　men　deceive　themselves；〃　said　Roger　Chillingworth；　withsomewhat　more　emphasis　than　usual；　and　making　a　slight　gesture　withhis　forefinger。　〃They　fear　to　take　up　the　shame　that　rightfullybelongs　to　them。　Their　love　for　man；　their　zeal　for　God's　service…these　holy　impulses　may　or　may　not　coexist　in　their　hearts　with　theevil　inmates　to　which　their　guilt　has　unbarred　the　door；　and　whichmust　needs　propagate　a　hellish　breed　within　them。　But；　if　they　seek　toglorify　God；　let　them　not　lift　heavenward　their　unclean　hands！　If　theywould　serve　their　fellow…men；　let　them　do　it　by　making　manifest　thepower　and　reality　of　conscience；　in　constraining　them　to　penitentialself…abasement！　Wouldst　thou　have　me　to　believe；　O　wise　and　piousfriend；　that　a　false　show　can　be　better…　can　be　more　for　God'sglory；　or　man's　welfare…　than　God's　own　truth？　Trust　me；　such　mendeceive　themselves！〃　　〃It　may　be　so；〃　said　the　young　clergyman；　indifferently；　aswaiving　a　discussion　that　he　considered　irrelevant　or　unseasonable。　Hehad　a　ready　faculty；　indeed；　of　escaping　from　any　topic　thatagitated　his　too　sensitive　and　nervous　temperament。　〃But；　now；　I　wouldask　of　my　well…skilled　physician；　whether；　in　good　sooth；　he　deemsme　to　have　profited　by　his　kindly　care　of　this　weak　frame　of　mine？〃　　Before　Roger　Chillingworth　could　answer；　they　heard　the　clear；wild　laughter　of　a　young　child's　voice；　proceeding　from　the　adjacentburial…ground。　Looking　instinctively　from　the　open　window…　for　itwas　summer…time…　the　minister　beheld　Hester　Prynne　and　little　Pearlpassing　along　the　footpath　that　traversed　the　enclosure。　Pearllooked　as　beautiful　as　the　day；　but　was　in　one　of　those　moods　ofperverse　merriment　which；　whenever　they　occurred；　seemed　to　remove　herentirely　out　of　the　sphere　of　sympathy　or　human　contact。　She　nowskipped　irreverently　from　one　grave　to　another；　until；　ing　to　thebroad；　flat；　armorial　tombstone　of　a　departed　worthy…　perhaps　of　IsaacJohnson　himself…　she　began　to　dance　upon　it。　In　reply　to　hermother's　mand　and　entreaty　that　she　would　behave　more　decorously；little　Pearl　paused　to　gather　the　prickly　burrs　from　a　tall　burdockwhich　grew　beside　the　tomb。　Taking　a　handful　of　these；　she　arrangedthem　along　the　lines　of　the　scarlet　letter　that　decorated　the　maternalbosom；　to　which　the　burrs；　as　their　nature　was；　tenaciously　adhered。Hester　did　not　pluck　them　off。　　Roger　Chillingworth　had　by　this　time　approached　the　window；　andsmiled　grimly　down。　　〃There　is　no　law；　nor　reverence　for　authority；　no　regard　for　humanordinances　or　opinions；　right　or　wrong；　mixed　up　with　that　child'sposition；〃　remarked　her；　as　much　to　himself　as　to　his　panion。　〃Isaw　her；　the　other　day；　bespatter　the　Governor　himself　with　water；at　the　cattle…trough　in　Spring　Lane。　What；　in　Heaven's　name；　is　she？Is　the　imp　altogether　evil？　Hath　she　affections？　Hath　she　anydiscoverable　principle　of　being？〃　　〃None…　save　the　freedom　of　a　broken　law；〃　answered　Mr。　Dimmesdale；in　a　quiet　way；　as　if　he　had　been　discussing　the　point　within　himself。〃Whether　capable　of　good　I　know　not。〃　　The　child　probably　overheard　their　voices；　for；　looking　up　to　thewindow；　with　a　bright；　but　naughty　smile　of　mirth　and　intelligence；she　threw　one　of　the　prickly　burrs　at　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale。　Thesensitive　clergyman　shrunk；　with　nervous　dread；　from　the　lightmissile。　Detecting　his　emotion；　Pearl　clapped　her　little　hands；　in　themost　extravagant　ecstasy。　Hester　Prynne；　likewise；　had　involuntarilylooked　up；　and　all　these　four　persons；　old　and　young；　regarded　oneanother　in　silence；　till　the　child　laughed　aloud；　and　shouted；　〃eaway；　mother！　e　away；　or　yonder　old　Black　Man　will　catch　you！　Hehath　got　hold　of　the　minister　already。　e　away；　mother；　or　he　willcatch　you！　But　he　cannot　catch　little　Pearl！〃　　So　she　drew　her　mother　away；　skipping；　dancing；　and　friskingfantastically；　among　the　hillocks　of　the　dead　people；　like　acreature　that　had　nothing　in　mon　with　a　bygone　and　buriedgeneration；　nor　owned　herself　akin　to　it。　It　was　as　if　she　had　beenmade　afresh；　out　of　new　elements；　and　must　perforce　be　permitted　tolive　her　own　life；　and　be　a　law　unto　herself；　without　hereccentricities　being　reckoned　to　her　for　a　crime。　　〃There　goes　a　woman；〃　resumed　Roger　Chillingworth；　after　a　pause；〃who；　be　her　demerits　what　they　may；　hath　none　of　that　mystery　ofhidden　sinfulness　which　you　deem　so　grievous　to　be　borne。　Is　HesterPrynne　the　less　miserable；　think　you；　for　that　scarlet　letter　on　herbreast？〃　　〃I　do　verily　believe　it；〃　answered　the　clergyman。　〃Nevertheless；　Icannot　answer　for　her。　There　was　a　look　of　pain　in　her　face；　which　Iwould　gladly　have　been　spared　the　sight　of。　But　still；　methinks；　itmust　needs　be　better　for　the　sufferer　to　be　free　to　show　his　pain；as　this　poor　woman　Hester　is；　than　to　cover　it　all　up　in　his　heart。〃　　There　was　another　pause；　and　the　physician　began　anew　to　examine　andarrange　the　plants　which　he　had　gathered。　　〃You　inquired　of　me；　a　little　time　agone；〃　said　he；　at　length；　〃myjudgment　as　touching　your　health。〃　　〃I　did；〃　answered　the　clergyman；　〃and　would　gladly　learn　it。　Speakfrankly；　I　pray　you；　be　it　for　life　or　death。〃　　〃Freely；　then；　and　plainly；〃　said　the　physician；　still　busy　with　hisplants；　but　keeping　a　wary　eye　on　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　〃the　disorder　is　astrange　one；　not　so　much　in　itself；　nor　as　outwardly　manifested…　in　sofar；　at　least；　as　the　symptoms　have　been　laid　open　to　myobservation。　Looking　dally　at　you；　my　good　sir；　and　watching　thetokens　of　your　aspect；　now　for　months　gone　by；　I　should　deem　you　a　mansore　sick；　it　may　be；　yet　not　so　sick　but　that　an　instructed　andwatchful　physician　might　well　hope　to　cure　you。　But…　I　know　not　whatto　say…　the　disease　is　what　I　seem　to　know；　yet　know　it　not。〃　　〃You　speak　in　riddles；　learned　sir；〃　said　the　pale　minister；glancing　aside　out　of　the　window。　　〃Then；　to　speak　more　plainly；〃　continued　the　physician；　〃and　I　cravepardon；　sir…　should　it　seem　to　require　pardon…　for　this　needfulplainness　of　my　speech。　Let　me　ask；　as　your　friend…　as　one　havingcharge；　under　Providence；　of　your　life　and　physical　well…being…　hathall　the　operation　of　this　disorder　been　fairly　laid　open　and　recountedto　me？〃　　〃How　can　you　question　it？〃　asked　the　minister。　〃Surely；　it　werechild's　play；　to　call　in　a　physician；　and　then　hide　the　sore！〃　　〃You　would　tell　me；　then；　that　I　know　all？〃　said　Roger　Chillingworthdeliberately；　and　fixing　an　eye；　bright　with　intense　andconcentrated　intelligence；　on　the　minister's　face。　〃Be　it　so！　But；again！　He　to　whom　only　the　outward　and　physical　evil　is　laid　open；knoweth；　oftentimes；　but　half　the　evil　which　be　is　called　upon　tocure。　A　bodily　disease；　which　we　look　upon　as　whole　and　entirewithin　itself；　may；　after　all；　be　but　a　symptom　of　some　ailment　in　thespiritual　part。　Your　pardon；　once　again；　good　sir；　if　my　speech　givethe　shadow　of　offence。　You；　sir；　of　all　men　whom　I　have　known；　arehe　whose　body　is　the　closest　conjoined；　and　imbued；　and　identified；　soto　speak；　with　the　spirit　whereof　it　is　the　instrument。〃　　〃Then　I　need　ask　no　further；〃　said　the　clergyman；　somewhat　hastilyrising　from　his　chair。　〃You　deal　not；　I　take　it；　in　medicine　for　thesoul！〃　　〃Thus；　a　sickness；〃　continued　Roger　Chillingworth　going　on；　in　anunaltered　tone；　without　heeding　the　interruption；　but　standing　upand　confronting　the　emaciated　and　white…cheeked　minister；　with　hislow；　dark；　and　misshapen　figure…　〃a　sickness；　a　sore　place；　if　we　mayso　call　it；　in　your　spirit；　hath　immediately　its　appropriatemanifestation　in　your　bodily　frame。　Would　you；　therefore；　that　yourphysician　heal　the　bodily　evil？　How　may　this　be；　unless　you　firstlay　open　to　him　the　wound　or　trouble　in　your　soul？〃　　〃No！…　not　to　thee！…　not　to　an　earthly　physician！〃　cried　Mr。Dimmesdale　passionately；　and　turning　his　eyes；　full　and　bright；　andwith　a　kind　of　fierceness；　on　old　Roger　Chillingworth。　〃Not　to　thee！But；　if　it　be　the　soul's　disease；　then