快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！

allduty　towards　other　human　beings；　there　remained　a　duty　towards　him；and　something　whispered　me　that　I　was　betraying　it；　in　pledging　myselfto　keep　your　counsel。　Since　that　day；　no　man　is　so　near　to　him　as　you。You　tread　behind　his　every　footstep。　You　are　beside　him；　sleepingand　waking。　You　search　his　thoughts。　You　burrow　and　rankle　in　hisheart！　Your　clutch　is　on　his　life；　and　you　cause　him　to　die　daily　aliving　death；　and　still　he　knows　you　not。　In　permitting　this；　I　havesurely　acted　a　false　part　by　the　only　man　to　whom　the　power　was　leftme　to　be　true！〃　　〃What　choice　had　you？〃　asked　Roger　Chillingworth。　〃My　finger；pointed　at　this　man；　would　have　hurled　him　from　his　pulpit　into　adungeon…　thence；　peradventure；　to　the　gallows！〃　　〃It　had　been　better　so！〃　said　Hester　Prynne。　　〃What　evil　have　I　done　the　man？〃　asked　Roger　Chillingworth　again。　〃Itell　thee；　Hester　Prynne；　the　richest　fee　that　ever　physician　earnedfrom　monarch　could　not　have　bought　such　care　as　I　have　wasted　onthis　miserable　priest！　But　for　my　aid；　his　life　would　have　burned　awayin　torments；　within　the　first　two　years　after　the　perpetration　ofhis　crime　and　thine。　For；　Hester；　his　spirit　lacked　the　strengththat　could　have　borne　up；　as　thine　has；　beneath　a　burden　like　thyscarlet　letter。　Oh；　I　could　reveal　a　goodly　secret！　But　enough！　Whatart　can　do；　I　have　exhausted　on　him。　That　he　now　breathes；　andcreeps　upon　earth；　is　owing　all　to　me！〃　　〃Better　he　had　died　at　once！〃　said　Hester　Prynne。　　〃Yea；　woman；　thou　sayest　truly！〃　cried　old　Roger　Chillingworth；letting　the　lurid　fire　of　his　heart　blaze　out　before　her　eyes。　〃Betterhad　he　died　at　once！　Never　did　mortal　suffer　what　this　man　hassuffered。　And　all；　all；　in　the　sight　of　his　worst　enemy！　He　has　beenconscious　of　me。　He　has　felt　an　influence　dwelling　always　upon　himlike　a　curse。　He　knew；　by　some　spiritual　sense…　for　the　Creator　nevermade　another　being　so　sensitive　as　this…　he　knew　that　no　friendly　handwas　pulling　at　his　heart…strings；　and　that　an　eye　was　lookingcuriously　into　him；　which　sought　only　evil；　and　found　it。　But　heknew　not　that　the　eye　and　hand　were　mine！　With　the　superstition　monto　his　brotherhood；　he　fancied　himself　given　over　to　a　fiend；　to　betortured　with　frightful　dreams；　and　desperate　thoughts；　the　sting　ofremorse；　and　despair　of　pardon；　as　a　foretaste　of　what　awaits　himbeyond　the　grave。　But　it　was　the　constant　shadow　of　my　presence！…the　closest　propinquity　of　the　man　whom　he　had　most　vilely　wronged！…and　who　had　grown　to　exist　only　by　this　perpetual　poison　of　the　direstrevenge！　Yea；　indeed！…　he　did　not　err！…　there　was　a　fiend　at　hiselbow！　A　mortal　man；　with　once　a　human　heart；　has　bee　a　fiend　forhis　especial　torment！〃　　The　unfortunate　physician；　while　uttering　these　words；　lifted　hishands　with　a　look　of　horror；　as　if　he　had　beheld　some　frightful　shape；which　he　could　not　recognise；　usurping　the　place　of　his　own　image　in　aglass。　It　was　one　of　those　moments…　which　sometimes　occur　only　atthe　interval　of　years…　when　a　man's　moral　aspect　is　faithfullyrevealed　to　his　mind's　eye。　Not　improbably；　he　had　never　before　viewedhimself　as　he　did　now。　　〃Hast　thou　not　tortured　him　enough？〃　said　Hester；　noticing　the　oldman's　look。　〃Has　he　not　paid　thee　all？〃　　〃No！…　no！…　he　has　but　increased　the　debt！〃　answered　the　physician；and　as　he　proceeded；　his　manner　lost　its　fiercer　characteristics；and　subsided　into　gloom。　〃Dost　thou　remember　me；　Hester；　as　I　was　nineyears　agone？　Even　then；　I　was　in　the　autumn　of　my　days；　nor　was　it　theearly　autumn。　But　all　my　life　had　been　made　up　of　earnest；　studious；thoughtful；　quiet　years；　bestowed　faithfully　for　the　increase　ofmine　own　knowledge；　and　faithfully；　too；　though　this　latter　object　wasbut　casual　to　the　other…　faithfully　for　the　advancement　of　humanwelfare。　No　life　had　been　more　peaceful　and　innocent　than　mine；　fewlives　so　rich　with　benefits　conferred。　Dost　thou　remember　me？　Was　Inot；　though　you　might　deem　me　cold；　nevertheless　a　man　thoughtfulfor　others；　craving　little　for　himself…　kind；　true；　just；　and　ofconstant；　if　not　warm　affections？　Was　I　not　all　this？〃　　〃All　this；　and　more；〃　said　Hester。　　〃And　what　am　I　now？〃　demanded　he；　looking　into　her　face；　andpermitting　the　whole　evil　within　him　to　be　written　on　his　features。　〃Ihave　already　told　thee　what　I　am！　A　fiend！　Who　made　me　so？〃　　〃It　was　myself！〃　cried　Hester；　shuddering。　〃It　was　I；　not　lessthan　he。　Why　hast　thou　not　avenged　thyself　on　me？〃　　〃I　have　left　thee　to　the　scarlet　letter；〃　replied　RogerChillingworth。　〃If　that　have　not　avenged　me；　I　can　do　no　more！〃　　He　laid　his　finger　on　it；　with　a　smile。　　〃It　has　avenged　thee！〃　answered　Hester　Prynne。　　〃I　judged　no　less；〃　said　the　physician。　〃And　now；　what　wouldstthou　with　me　touching　this　man？〃　　〃I　must　reveal　the　secret；〃　answered　Hester　firmly。　〃He　must　discernthee　in　thy　true　character。　What　may　be　the　result；　I　know　not。　Butthis　long　debt　of　confidence；　due　from　me　to　him；　whose　bane　andruin　I　have　been；　shall　at　length　be　paid。　So　far　as　concerns　theoverthrow　or　preservation　of　his　fair　fame　and　his　earthly　state；and　perchance　his　life；　he　is　in　thy　hands。　Nor　do　I…　whom　the　scarletletter　has　disciplined　to　truth；　though　it　be　the　truth　of　red…hotiron；　entering　into　the　soul…　nor　do　I　perceive　such　advantage　inhis　living　any　longer　a　life　of　ghastly　emptiness；　that　I　shallstoop　to　implore　thy　mercy。　Do　with　him　as　thou　wilt！　There　is　no　goodfor　him…　no　good　for　me…　no　good　for　thee！　There　is　no　good　for　littlePearl！　There　is　no　path　to　guide　us　out　of　this　dismal　maze。〃　　〃Woman；　I　could　well…nigh　pity　thee！〃　said　Roger　Chillingworth；unable　to　restrain　a　thrill　of　admiration　too；　for　there　ajestic　in　the　despair　which　she　expressed。　〃Thou　hadstgreat　elements。　Peradventure；　hadst　thou　met　earlier　with　a　betterlove　than　mine；　this　evil　had　not　been。　I　pity　thee；　for　the　good　thathas　been　wasted　in　thy　nature！〃　　〃And　I　thee；〃　answered　Hester　Prynne；　〃for　the　hatred　that　hastransformed　a　wise　and　just　man　to　a　fiend！　Wilt　thou　yet　purge　it　outof　thee；　and　be　once　more　human？　If　not　for　his　sake；　then　doublyfor　thine　own！　Forgive；　and　leave　his　further　retribution　to　the　Powerthat　claims　it！　I　said；　but　now；　that　there　could　be　no　good　event　forhim；　or　thee；　or　me；　who　are　here　wandering　together　in　this　gloomymaze　of　evil；　and　stumbling；　at　every　step；　over　the　guilt　wherewithwe　have　strewn　our　path。　It　is　not　so！　There　might　be　good　for　thee；and　thee　alone；　since　thou　hast　been　deeply　wronged；　and　hast　it　atthy　will　to　pardon。　Wilt　thou　give　up　that　only　privilege？　Wilt　thoureject　that　priceless　benefit？〃　　〃Peace；　Hester；　peace！〃　replied　the　old　man；　with　gloomysternness。　〃It　is　not　granted　me　to　pardon。　I　have　no　such　power　asthou　tellest　me　of。　My　old　faith；　long　forgotten；　es　back　to　me；and　explains　all　that　we　do；　and　all　we　suffer。　By　thy　first　stepawry；　thou　didst　plant　the　germ　of　evil；　but　since　that　moment；　it　hasall　been　a　dark　necessity。　Ye　that　have　wronged　me　are　not　sinful；save　in　a　kind　of　typical　illusion；　neither　am　I　fiend…like；　whohave　snatched　a　fiend's　office　from　his　hands。　It　is　our　fate。　Let　theblack　flower　blossom　as　it　may！　Now　go　thy　ways；　and　deal　as　thou　wiltwith　yonder　man。〃　　He　waved　his　hand　and　betook　himself　again　to　his　employment　ofgathering　herbs。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HESTER　AND　PEARL。　　SO　Roger　Chillingworth…　a　deformed　old　figure；　with　a　face　thathaunted　men's　memories　longer　than　they　liked…　took　leave　of　HesterPrynne；　and　went　stooping　away　along　the　earth。　He　gathered　here　andthere　an　herb；　or　grubbed　up　a　root；　and　put　it　into　the　basket　on　hisarm。　His　grey　beard　almost　touched　the　ground；　as　he　crept　onward。Hester　gazed　after　him　a　little　while；　looking　with　a　half　fantasticcuriosity　to　see　whether　the　tender　grass　of　early　spring　would　not　beblighted　beneath　him；　and　show　the　wavering　track　of　his　footsteps；sere　and　brown；　across　its　cheerful　verdure。　She　wondered　what　sort　ofherbs　they　were；　which　the　old　man　was　so　sedulous　to　gather。　Wouldnot　the　earth；　quickened　to　an　evil　purpose　by　the　sympathy　of　hiseye；　greet　him　with　poisonous　shrubs；　of　species　hitherto　unknown；that　would　start　up　under　his　fingers？　Or　might　it　suffice　him；　thatevery　wholesome　growth　should　be　converted　into　somethingdeleterious　and　malignant　at　his　touch？　Did　the　sun；　which　shone　sobrightly　everywhere　else；　really　fall　upon　him？　Or　was　there；　as　itrather　seemed；　a　circle　of　ominous　shadow　moving　along　with　hisdeformity；　whichever　way　he　turned　himself？　And　whither　was　he　nowgoing？　Would　he　not　suddenly　sink　into　the　earth；　leaving　a　barren　andblasted　spot；　where；　in　due　course　of　time；　would　be　seen　deadlynightshade；　dogwood；　henbane；　and　whatever　else　of　vegetablewickedness　the　climate　could　produce；　all　flourishing　with　hideousluxuriance？　Or　would　he　spread　bat's　wings　and　flee　away；　looking　somuch　the　uglier；　the　higher　he　rose　towards　heaven？　　〃Be　it　sin　or　no；〃　said　Hester　Prynne　bitterly；　as　she　still　gazedafter　him；　〃I　hate　the　man！〃　　She　upbraided　herself　for　the　sentiment；　but　could　not　overe　orlessen　it。　Attempting　to　do　so；　she　thought　of　those　long…past　days；in　a　distant　land；　when　he　used　to　emerge　at　eventide　from　theseclusion　of　his　study；　and　sit　down　in　the　firelight　of　their　home；and　in　the　light　of　her　nuptial　smile。　He　needed　to　bask　himself　inthat　smile；　he　said；　in　order　that　the　chill　of　so　many　lonely　hoursamong　his　books　might　be　taken　off　the　scholar's　heart。　Such　sceneshad　once　appeared　not　otherwise　than　happy；　but　now；　as　viewed　throughthe　dismal　medium　of　her　subsequent　life；　they　classed　themselvesamong　her　ugliest　remembrances。　She　marvelled　how　such　scenes　couldhave　been！　She　marvelled　how　she　could　ever　have　been　wrought　uponto　marry　him！　She　deemed　it　her　crime　most　to　be　repented　of；　that　shehad　ever　endured；　and　reciprocated；　the　lukewarm　grasp　of　his　hand；and　had　suffered　the　smile　of　her　lips　and　eyes　to　mingle　and　meltinto　his　own。　And　it　seemed　a　fouler　offence　mitted　by　RogerChillingworth；　than　any　which　had　since　been　done　him；　that；　in　thetime　when　her　heart　knew　no　better；　he　had　persuaded　her　to　fancyherself　happy　by　his　side。　　〃Yes；　I　hate　him！〃　repeated　Hester；　more　bitterly　than　before。　〃Hebetrayed　me！　He　has　done　me　worse　wrong　than　I　did　him！〃　　Let　men　tremble　to　win　the　hand　of　woman；　unless　they　win　along　withit　the　utmost　passion　of　her　heart！　Else　it　may　be　their　miserablefortune；　as　it　was　Roger　Chillingworth's；　when　some　mightier　touchthan　their　own　may　have　awakened　all　her　sensibilities；　to　bereproached　even　for　the　calm　content；　the　marble　image　of　happiness；which　they　will　have　imposed　upon　her　as　the　warm　reality。　ButHester　ought　long　ago　to　have　done　with　this　injustice。　What　did　itbetoken？　Had　seven　long　years；　under　the　torture　of　the　scarletletter；　inflicted　so　much　of　misery；　and　wrought　out　no　repentance？　　The　emotions　of　that　brief　space；　while　she　stood　gazing　after　thecrooked　figure　of　old　Roger　Chillingworth；　threw　a　dark　light　onHester's　state　of　mind；　revealing　much　that　she　might　not　otherwisehave　acknowledged　to　herself。　　He　being　gone；　she　summoned　back　her　child。　　〃Pearl！　Little　Pearl！　Where　are　you？〃　　Pearl；　whose　activity　of　spirit　never　flagged；　had　been　at　no　lossfor　amusement　while　her　mother　talked　with　the　old　gatherer　ofherbs。　At　first；　as　already　told；　she　had　flirted　fancifully　withher　own　image　in　a　pool　of　water；　beckoning　the　phantom　forth；　and…　asit　declined　to　venture…　seeking　a　passage　for　herself　into　itssphere　of　impalpable　earth　and　unattainable　sky。　Soon　finding；however；　that　either　she　or　the　image　was　unreal；　she　turned　elsewherefor　better　pastime。　She　made　little　boats　out　of　birch…bark；　andfreighted　them　with　snail…shells；　and　sent　out　more　ventures　on　themighty　deep　than　any　merchant　in　New　England；　but　the　larger　part　ofthem　foundered　near　the　shore。　She　seized　a　live　horse…shoe　by　thetail；　and　made　prize　of　several　five…fingers；　and　laid　out　ajelly…fish　to　melt　in　the　warm　sun。　Then　she　took　up　the　white　foam；that　streaked　the　line　of　the　advancing　tide；　and　threw　it　upon　thebreeze；　scampering　after　it；　with　winged　footsteps；　to　catch　the　greatsnowflakes　ere　they　fell。　Perceiving　a　flock　of　beach…birds；　thatfed　and　fluttered　along　the　shore；　the　naughty　child　picked　up　herapron　full　of　pebbles；　and；　creeping　from　rock　to　rock　after　thesesmall　sea…fowl；　displa