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al　city；　while　looking　thitherwardto　see　the　triumphant　pilgrim　pass　within　its　gates…　now；　in　short；good　Father　Wilson　was　moving　homeward；　aiding　his　footsteps　with　alighted　lantern！　The　glimmer　of　this　luminary　suggested　the　aboveconceits　to　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　who　smiled…　nay；　almost　laughed　at　them…and　then　wondered　if　he　were　going　mad。　　As　the　Reverend　Mr。　Wilson　passed　beside　the　scaffold；　closelymuffling　his　Geneva　cloak　about　him　with　one　arm；　and　holding　thelantern　before　his　breast　with　the　other；　the　minister　could　hardlyrestrain　himself　from　speaking。　　〃A　good　evening　to　you；　venerable　Father　Wilson！　e　up　hither；　Ipray　you；　and　pass　a　pleasant　hour　with　me！〃　　Good　heavens！　Had　Mr。　Dimmesdale　actually　spoken？　For　one　instant；he　believed　that　these　words　had　passed　his　lips。　But　they　wereuttered　only　within　his　imagination。　The　venerable　Father　Wilsoncontinued　to　step　slowly　onward；　looking　carefully　at　the　muddypathway　before　his　feet；　and　never　once　turning　his　head　toward　theguilty　platform。　When　the　light　of　the　glimmering　lantern　had　fadedquite　away；　the　minister　discovered；　by　the　faintness　which　cameover　him；　that　the　last　few　moments　had　been　a　crisis　of　terribleanxiety；　although　his　mind　had　made　an　involuntary　effort　to　relieveitself　by　a　kind　of　lurid　playfulness。　　Shortly　afterwards；　the　like　grisly　sense　of　the　humorous　againstole　in　among　the　solemn　phantoms　of　his　thought。　He　felt　his　limbsgrowing　stiff　with　the　unaccustomed　chilliness　of　the　night；　anddoubted　whether　he　should　be　able　to　descend　the　steps　of　thescaffold。　Morning　would　break；　and　find　him　there。　The　neighbourhoodwould　begin　to　rouse　itself。　The　earliest　riser；　ing　forth　in　thedim　twilight；　would　perceive　a　vaguely　defined　figure　aloft　on　theplace　of　shame；　and；　half　crazed　betwixt　alarm　and　curiosity；　wouldgo；　knocking　from　door　to　door；　summoning　all　the　people　to　behold　theghost…　as　he　needs　must　think　it…　of　some　defunct　transgressor。　Adusky　tumult　would　flap　its　wings　from　one　house　to　another。　Then…　themorning　light　still　waxing　stronger…　old　patriarchs　would　rise　up　ingreat　haste；　each　in　his　flannel　gown；　and　matronly　dames；　withoutpausing　to　put　off　their　night…gear。　The　whole　tribe　of　decorouspersonages；　who　had　never　heretofore　been　seen　with　a　single　hair　oftheir　heads　awry；　would　start　into　public　view；　with　the　disorder　of　anightmare　in　their　aspects。　Old　Governor　Bellingham　would　egrimly　forth；　with　his　King　James　ruff　fastened　askew；　and　MistressHibbins；　with　some　twigs　of　the　forest　clinging　to　her　skirts；　andlooking　sourer　than　ever；　as　having　hardly　got　a　wink　of　sleep　afterher　night　ride；　and　good　Father　Wilson；　too；　after　spending　half　thenight　at　a　death…bed；　and　liking　ill　to　be　disturbed；　thus　early；out　of　his　dreams　about　the　glorified　saints。　Hither；　likewise；would　e　the　elders　and　deacons　of　Mr　Dimmesdale's　church；　and　theyoung　virgins　who　so　idolised　their　minister；　and　had　made　a　shrinefor　him　in　their　white　bosoms；　which　now；　by…the…bye；　in　their　hurryand　confusion；　they　would　scantily　have　given　themselves　time　to　coverwith　their　kerchiefs。　All　people；　in　a　word；　would　e　stumbling　overtheir　thresholds；　and　turning　up　their　amazed　and　horror…strickenvisages　around　the　scaffold。　Whom　would　they　discern　there；　with　thered　eastern　light　upon　his　brow？　Whom；　but　the　Reverend　ArthurDimmesdale；　half　frozen　to　death；　overwhelmed　with　shame；　and　standingwhere　Hester　Prynne　had　stood！　　Carried　away　by　the　grotesque　horror　of　this　picture；　theminister；　unawares；　and　to　his　own　infinite　alarm；　burst　into　agreat　peal　of　laughter。　It　was　immediately　responded　to　by　a　light；airy；　childish　laugh；　in　which；　with　a　thrill　of　the　heart…　but　heknew　not　whether　of　exquisite　pain；　or　pleasure　as　acute…　herecognised　the　tones　of　little　Pearl。　　〃Pearl！　Little　Pearl！〃　cried　he；　after　a　moment's　pause；　then；suppressing　his　voice…　〃Hester！　Hester　Prynne！　Are　you　there？〃　　〃Yes；　it　is　Hester　Prynne！〃　she　replied；　in　a　tone　of　surprise；and　the　minister　heard　her　footsteps　approaching　from　the　sidewalk；along　which　she　had　been　passing。　〃It　is　I；　and　my　little　Pearl。〃　　〃Whence　e　you；　Hester？〃　asked　the　minister。　〃What　sent　youhither？〃　　〃I　have　been　watching　at　a　death…bed；〃　answered　Hester　Prynne…　〃atGovernor　Winthrop's　death…bed；　and　have　taken　his　measure　for　arobe；　and　am　now　going　homeward　to　my　dwelling。〃　　〃e　up　hither；　Hester；　thou　and　little　Pearl；〃　said　the　ReverendMr。　Dimmesdale。　〃Ye　have　both　been　here　before；　but　I　was　not　withyou。　e　up　hither　once　again；　and　we　will　stand　all　three　together！〃　　She　silently　ascended　the　steps；　and　stood　on　the　platform；holding　little　Pearl　by　the　hand。　The　minister　felt　for　the　child'sother　hand；　and　took　it。　The　moment　that　he　did　so；　there　came　whatseemed　a　tumultuous　rush　of　new　life；　other　life　than　his　own；　pouringlike　a　torrent　into　his　heart；　and　hurrying　through　all　his　veins；as　if　the　mother　and　the　child　were　municating　their　vital　warmthto　his　half…torpid　system。　The　three　formed　an　electric　chain。　　〃Minister！〃　whispered　little　Pearl。　　〃What　wouldst　thou　say；　child？〃　asked　Mr。　Dimmesdale。　　〃Wilt　thou　stand　here　with　mother　and　me；　to…morrow　noontide？〃inquired　Pearl。　　〃Nay；　not　so；　my　little　Pearl；〃　answered　the　minister；　for；　with　thenew　energy　of　the　moment；　all　the　dread　of　public　exposure；　that　hadso　long　been　the　anguish　of　his　life；　had　returned　upon　him；　and　hewas　already　trembling　at　the　conjunction　in　which…　with　a　strange　joy；nevertheless…　he　now　found　himself。　〃Not　so；　my　child。　I　shall；indeed；　stand　with　thy　mother　and　thee　one　other　day；　but　notto…morrow。〃　　Pearl　laughed；　and　attempted　to　pull　away　her　hand。　But　the　ministerheld　it　fast。　　〃A　moment　longer；　my　child！〃　said　he。　　〃But　wilt　thou　promise；〃　asked　Pearl；　〃to　take　my　hand；　and　mother'shand；　to…morrow　noontide？〃　　〃Not　then；　Pearl；〃　said　the　minister；　〃but　another　time。〃　　〃And　what　other　time？〃　persisted　the　child。　　〃At　the　great　judgment　day；〃　whispered　the　minister…　and；strangely　enough；　the　sense　that　he　was　a　professional　teacher　ofthe　truth　impelled　him　to　answer　the　child　so。　〃Then；　and　there；before　the　judgment…seat；　thy　mother；　and　thou；　and　I；　must　standtogether。　But　the　daylight　of　this　world　shall　not　see　our　meeting！〃　　Pearl　laughed　again。　　But；　before　Mr。　Dimmesdale　had　done　speaking；　a　light　gleamed　farand　wide　over　all　the　muffled　sky。　It　was　doubtless　caused　by　one　ofthose　meteors　which　the　night…watcher　may　so　often　observe　burning　outto　waste；　in　the　vacant　regions　of　the　atmosphere。　So　powerful　was　itsradiance；　that　it　thoroughly　illuminated　the　dense　medium　of　cloudbetwixt　the　sky　and　earth。　The　great　vault　brightened；　like　the　domeof　an　immense　lamp。　It　showed　the　familiar　scene　of　the　street；　withthe　distinctness　of　mid…day；　but　also　with　the　awfulness　that　isalways　imparted　to　familiar　objects　by　an　unaccustomed　light。　Thewooden　houses；　with　their　jutting　stories　and　quaint　gable…peaks；the　door…steps　and　thresholds；　with　the　early　grass　springing　up　aboutthem；　the　garden…plots；　black　with　freshly　turned　earth；　thewheel…track；　little　worn；　and；　even　in　the　market…place；　margined　withgreen　on　either　side　all…　were　visible；　but　with　a　singularity　ofaspect　that　seemed　to　give　another　moral　interpretation　to　thethings　of　this　world　than　they　had　ever　borne　before。　And　therestood　the　minister；　with　his　hand　over　his　heart；　and　Hester　Prynne；with　the　embroidered　letter　glimmering　on　her　bosom；　and　little　Pearl；herself　a　symbol；　and　the　connecting　link　between　those　two。　Theystood　in　the　noon　of　that　strange　and　solemn　splendour；　as　if　itwere　the　light　that　is　to　reveal　all　secrets；　and　the　daybreak　thatshall　unite　all　who　belong　to　one　another。　　There　was　witchcraft　in　little　Pearl's　eyes；　and　her　face；　as　sheglanced　upward　at　the　minister；　wore　that　naughty　smile　which　made　itsexpression　frequently　so　elvish。　She　withdrew　her　hand　from　Mr。Dimmesdale's；　and　pointed　across　the　street。　But　he　clasped　both　hishands　over　his　breast；　and　cast　his　eyes　towards　the　zenith。　　Nothing　was　more　mon；　in　those　days；　than　to　interpret　allmeteoric　appearances；　and　other　natural　phenomena；　that　occurredwith　less　regularity　than　the　rise　and　set　of　sun　and　moon；　as　so　manyrevelations　from　a　supernatural　source。　Thus；　a　blazing　spear；　a　swordof　flame；　a　bow；　or　a　sheaf　of　arrows；　seen　in　the　midnight　sky；prefigured　Indian　warfare。　Pestilence　was　known　to　have　been　forebodedby　a　shower　of　crimson　light。　We　doubt　whether　any　marked　event；　forgood　or　evil；　ever　befell　New　England；　from　its　settlement　down　toRevolutionary　times；　of　which　the　inhabitants　had　not　beenpreviously　warned　by　some　spectacle　of　this　nature。　Not　seldom；　it　hadbeen　seen　by　multitudes。　Oftener；　however；　its　credibility　rested　onthe　faith　of　some　lonely　eye…witness；　who　beheld　the　wonder　throughthe　coloured；　magnifying；　and　distorting　medium　of　his　imagination；and　shaped　it　more　distinctly　in　his　afterthought。　It　was；　indeed；　amajestic　idea；　that　the　destiny　of　nations　should　be　revealed；　inthese　awful　hieroglyphics；　on　the　cope　of　heaven。　A　scroll　so　widemight　not　be　deemed　too　expansive　for　Providence　to　write　a　people'sdoom　upon。　The　belief　was　a　favourite　one　with　our　forefathers；　asbetokening　that　their　infant　monwealth　was　under　a　celestialguardianship　of　peculiar　intimacy　and　strictness。　But　what　shall　wesay；　when　an　individual　discovers　a　revelation；　addressed　to　himselfalone；　on　the　same　vast　sheet　of　record！　In　such　a　case；　it　could　onlybe　the　symptom　of　a　highly　disordered　mental　state；　when　a　man；rendered　morbidly　self…contemplative　by　long；　intense；　and　secretpain；　had　extended　his　egotism　over　the　whole　expanse　of　nature；　untilthe　firmament　itself　should　appear　no　more　than　a　fitting　page　for　hissoul's　history　and　fate！　　We　impute　it；　therefore；　solely　to　the　disease　in　his　own　eye　andheart；　that　the　minister；　looking　upward　to　the　zenith；　beheld　therethe　appearance　of　an　immense　letter…　the　letter　A…　marked　out　in　linesof　dull　red　light。　Not　but　the　meteor　may　have　shown　itself　at　thatpoint；　burning　duskily　through　a　veil　of　cloud；　but　with　no　such　shapeas　his　guilty　imagination　gave　it；　or；　at　least；　with　so　littledefiniteness；　that　another's　guilt　might　have　seen　another　symbol　init。　　There　was　a　singular　circumstance　that　characterised　Mr。Dimmesdale's　psychological　state　at　this　moment。　All　the　time　thathe　gazed　upward　to　the　zenith；　he　was；　nevertheless；　perfectly　awarethat　little　Pearl　was　pointing　her　finger　towards　old　RogerChillingworth；　who　stood　at　no　great　distance　from　the　scaffold。　Theminister　appeared　to　see　him；　with　the　same　glance　that　discernedthe　miraculous　letter。　To　his　features；　as　to　all　other　objects；　themeteoric　light　imparted　a　new　expression；　or　it　might　well　be　that　thephysician　was　not　careful　then；　as　at　all　other　times；　to　hide　themalevolence　with　which　he　looked　upon　his　victim。　Certainly；　if　themeteor　kindled　up　the　sky；　and　disclosed　the　earth；　with　anawfulness　that　admonished　Hester　Prynne　and　the　clergyman　of　the　dayof　judgment；　then　might　Roger　Chillingworth　have　passed　with　themfor　the　arch…fiend；　standing　there　with　a　smile　and　scowl；　to　claimhis　own。　So　vivid　was　the　expression；　or　so　intense　the　minister'sperception　of　it；　that　it　seemed　still　to　remain　painted　on　thedarkness；　after　the　meteor　had　vanished；　with　an　effect　as　if　thestreet　and　all　things　else　were　at　once　annihilated。　　〃Who　is　that　man；　Hester？〃　gasped　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　overe　withterror。　〃I　shiver　at　him！　Dost　thou　know　the　man？　I　hate　him；　Hester！〃　　She　remembered　her　oath；　and　was　silent。　　〃I　tell　thee；　my　soul　shivers　at　him！〃　muttered　the　ministeragain。　〃Who　is　he？　Who　is　he？　Canst　thou　do　nothing　for　me？　I　have　anameless　horror　of　the　man！〃　　〃Minister；〃　said　little　Pearl；　〃I　can　tell　thee　who　he　is！〃　　〃Quickly；　then；　child！〃　said　the　minister；　bending　his　ear　closeto　her　lips。　〃Quickly！…　and　as　low　as　thou　canst　whisper。〃　　Pearl　mumbled　something　into　his　ear；　that　sounded；　indeed；　likehuman　language；　but　was　only　such　gibberish　as　children　may　be　heardamusing　themselves　with；　by　the　hour　together。　At　all　events；　if　itinvolved　any　secret　information　in　regard　to　old　RogerChillingworth；　it　was　in　a　tongue　unknown　to　the　erudite　clergyman；and　did　but　increase　the　bewilderment　of　his　mind。　The　elvish　childthen　laughed　aloud。　　〃Dost　thou　mock　me　now？〃　sai