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icked　up　herapron　full　of　pebbles；　and；　creeping　from　rock　to　rock　after　thesesmall　sea…fowl；　displayed　remarkable　dexterity　in　pelting　them。　Onelittle　grey　bird；　with　a　white　breast；　Pearl　was　almost　sure；　had　beenhit　by　a　pebble；　and　fluttered　away　with　a　broken　wing。　But　then　theelf…child　sighed；　and　gave　up　her　sport；　because　it　grieved　her　tohave　done　harm　to　a　little　being　that　was　as　wild　as　the　sea…breeze；or　as　wild　as　Pearl　herself。　　Her　final　employment　was　to　gather　sea…weed；　of　various　kinds；　andmake　herself　a　scarf；　or　mantle；　and　a　head…dress；　and　thus　assume　theaspect　of　a　little　mermaid。　She　inherited　her　mother's　gift　fordevising　drapery　and　costume。　As　the　last　touch　to　her　mermaid　garb；Pearl　took　some　eel…grass；　and　imitated；　as　best　she　could；　on　her　ownbosom；　the　decoration　with　which　she　was　so　familiar　on　hermother's。　A　letter…　the　letter　A…　but　freshly　green；　instead　ofscarlet！　The　child　bent　her　chin　upon　her　breast；　and　contemplatedthis　device　with　strange　interest；　even　as　if　the　one　only　thing　forwhich　she　had　been　sent　into　the　world　was　to　make　out　its　hiddenimport。　　〃I　wonder　if　mother　will　ask　me　what　it　means？〃　thought　Pearl。　　Just　then；　she　heard　her　mother's　voice；　and　flitting　along　aslightly　as　one　of　the　little　sea…birds；　appeared　before　Hester　Prynne；dancing；　laughing；　and　pointing　her　finger　to　the　ornament　upon　herbosom。　　〃My　little　Pearl；〃　said　Hester；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃the　greenletter；　and　on　thy　childish　bosom；　has　no　purport。　But　dost　thou　know；my　child；　what　this　letter　means　which　thy　mother　is　doomed　to　wear？〃　　〃Yes；　mother；〃　said　the　child。　〃It　is　the　great　letter　A。　Thouhast　taught　me　in　the　horn…book。〃　　Hester　looked　steadily　into　her　little　face；　but；　though　there　wasthat　singular　expression　which　she　had　so　often　remarked　in　herblack　eyes；　she　could　not　satisfy　herself　whether　Pearl　reallyattached　any　meaning　to　the　symbol。　She　felt　a　morbid　desire　toascertain　the　point。　　〃Dost　thou　know；　child；　wherefore　thy　mother　wears　this　letter？〃　　〃Truly　do　I！〃　answered　Pearl；　looking　brightly　into　her　mother'sface。　〃It　is　for　the　same　reason　that　the　minister　keeps　his　hand　overhis　heart！〃　　〃And　what　reason　is　that？〃　asked　Hester；　half　smiling　at　theabsurd　incongruity　of　the　child's　observation；　but；　on　secondthoughts；　turning　pale。　〃What　has　the　letter　to　do　with　any　heart；save　mine？〃　　〃Nay；　mother；　I　have　told　all　I　know；〃　said　Pearl；　more　seriouslythan　she　was　wont　to　speak。　〃Ask　yonder　old　man　whom　thou　hast　beentalking　with！　It　may　be　he　can　tell。　But　in　good　earnest　now；　motherdear；　what　does　this　scarlet　letter　mean？…　and　why　dost　thou　wear　iton　thy　bosom？…　and　why　does　the　minister　keep　his　hand　over　hisheart？〃　　She　took　her　mother's　hand　in　both　her　own；　and　gazed　into　hereyes　with　an　earnestness　that　was　seldom　seen　in　her　wild　andcapricious　character。　The　thought　occurred　to　Hester；　that　the　childmight　really　be　seeking　to　approach　her　with　childlike　confidence；　anddoing　what　she　could；　and　as　intelligently　as　she　knew　how；　toestablish　a　meeting…point　of　sympathy。　It　showed　Pearl　in　anunwonted　aspect。　Heretofore；　the　mother；　while　loving　her　child　withthe　intensity　of　a　soul　affection；　had　schooled　herself　to　hope　forlittle　other　return　than　the　waywardness　of　an　April　breeze；　whichspends　its　time　in　airy　sport；　and　has　its　gusts　of　inexplicablepassion；　and　is　petulant　in　its　best　of　moods；　and　chills　oftener　thancaresses　you；　when　you　take　it　to　your　bosom；　in　requital　of　whichmisdemeanours；　it　will　sometimes；　of　its　own　vague　purpose；　kissyour　cheek　with　a　kind　of　doubtful　tenderness；　and　play　gently　withyour　hair；　and　then　be　gone　about　its　other　idle　business；　leaving　adreamy　pleasure　at　your　heart。　And　this；　moreover；　was　a　mother'sestimate　of　the　child's　disposition。　Any　other　observer　might　haveseen　few　but　unamiable　traits；　and　have　given　them　a　far　darkercolouring。　But　now　the　idea　came　strongly　into　Hester's　mind；　thatPearl；　with　her　remarkable　precocity　and　acuteness；　might　already　haveapproached　the　age　when　she　could　be　made　a　friend；　and　entrusted　withas　much　of　her　mother's　sorrows　as　could　be　imparted；　withoutirreverence　either　to　the　parent　or　the　child。　In　the　little　chaosof　Pearl's　character；　there　might　be　seen　emerging…　and　could　havebeen；　from　the　very　first…　the　steadfast　principles　of　anunflinching　courage…　an　uncontrollable　will…　a　sturdy　pride；　whichmight　be　disciplined　into　self…respect…　and　a　bitter　scorn　of　manythings；　which；　when　examined；　might　be　found　to　have　the　taint　offalsehood　in　them。　She　possessed　affections；　too；　though　hithertoacrid　and　disagreeable；　as　are　the　richest　flavours　of　unripe　fruit。With　all　these　sterling　attributes；　thought　Hester；　the　evil　which　sheinherited　from　her　mother　must　be　great　indeed；　if　a　noble　woman　donot　grow　out　of　this　elfish　child。　　Pearl's　inevitable　tendency　to　hover　about　the　enigma　of　the　scarletletter　seemed　an　innate　quality　of　her　being。　From　the　earliestepoch　of　her　conscious　life；　she　had　entered　upon　this　as　herappointed　mission。　Hester　had　often　fancied　that　Providence　had　adesign　of　justice　and　retribution；　in　endowing　the　child　with　thismarked　propensity；　but　never；　until　now；　had　she　bethought　herselfto　ask；　whether；　linked　with　that　design；　there　might　not　likewisebe　a　purpose　of　mercy　and　beneficence。　If　little　Pearl　wereentertained　with　faith　and　trust；　as　a　spirit　messenger　no　less　thanan　earthly　child；　might　it　not　be　her　errand　to　soothe　away　the　sorrowthat　lay　cold　in　her　mother's　heart；　and　converted　it　into　a　tomb？…and　to　help　her　to　overe　the　passion；　once　so　wild；　and　even　yetneither　dead　nor　asleep；　but　only　imprisoned　within　the　same　tomb…likeheart？　　Such　were　some　of　the　thoughts　that　now　stirred　in　Hester's　mind；with　as　much　vivacity　of　impression　as　if　they　had　actually　beenwhispered　into　her　ear。　And　there　was　little　Pearl；　all　this　while；holding　her　mother's　hand　in　both　her　own；　and　turning　her　faceupward；　while　she　put　these　searching　questions；　once；　and　again；and　still　a　third　time。　　〃What　does　the　letter　mean；　mother？…　and　why　dost　thou　wear　it？…　andwhy　does　the　minister　keep　his　hand　over　his　heart？〃　　〃What　shall　I　say？〃　thought　Hester　to　herself。　〃No！　If　this　be　theprice　of　the　child's　sympathy；　I　cannot　pay　it。〃　　Then　she　spoke　aloud。　　〃Silly　Pearl；〃　said　she；　〃what　questions　are　these？　There　are　manythings　in　this　world　that　a　child　must　not　ask　about。　What　know　I　ofthe　minister's　heart？　And　as　for　the　scarlet　letter；　I　wear　it　for　thesake　of　its　gold　thread。〃　　In　all　the　seven　bygone　years；　Hester　Prynne　had　never　before　beenfalse　to　the　symbol　on　her　bosom。　It　may　be　that　it　was　the　talismanof　a　stern　and　severe；　but　yet　a　guardian　spirit；　who　now　forsook　her；as　recognising　that；　in　spite　of　his　strict　watch　over　her　heart；　somenew　evil　had　crept　into　it；　or　some　old　one　had　never　been　expelled。As　for　little　Pearl；　the　earnestness　soon　passed　out　of　her　face。　　But　the　child　did　not　see　fit　to　let　the　matter　drop。　Two　or　threetimes；　as　her　mother　and　she　went　homeward；　and　as　often　atsuppertime；　and　while　Hester　was　putting　her　to　bed；　and　once　aftershe　seemed　to　be　fairly　asleep；　Pearl　looked　up；　with　mischiefgleaming　in　her　black　eyes。　　〃Mother；〃　said　she；　〃what　does　the　scarlet　letter　mean？〃　　And　the　next　morning；　the　first　indication　the　child　gave　of　beingawake　was　by　popping　up　her　head　from　the　pillow；　and　making　thatother　inquiry；　which　she　had　so　unaccountably　connected　with　herinvestigations　about　the　scarlet　letter…　　〃Mother！…　mother！…　why　does　the　minister　keep　his　hand　over　hisheart？〃　　〃Hold　thy　tongue；　naughty　child！〃　answered　her　mother；　with　anasperity　that　she　had　never　permitted　to　herself　before。　〃Do　not　teaseme；　else　I　shall　shut　thee　into　the　dark　closet！〃　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XVI。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　FOREST　WALK。　　HESTER　PRYNNE　remained　constant　in　her　resolve　to　make　known　toMr。　Dimmesdale；　at　whatever　risk　of　present　pain　or　ulteriorconsequences；　the　true　character　of　the　man　who　had　crept　into　hisintimacy。　For　several　days；　however；　she　vainly　sought　anopportunity　of　addressing　him　in　some　of　the　meditative　walks　whichshe　knew　him　to　be　in　the　habit　of　taking；　along　the　shores　of　thepeninsula；　or　on　the　wooded　hills　of　the　neighbouring　country。　Therewould　have　been　no　scandal；　indeed；　nor　peril　to　the　holy　whiteness　ofthe　clergyman's　good　fame；　had　she　visited　him　in　his　own　study；　wheremany　a　penitent；　ere　now；　had　confessed　sins　of　perhaps　as　deep　adye　as　the　one　betokened　by　the　scarlet　letter。　But；　partly　that　shedreaded　the　secret　or　undisguised　interference　of　old　RogerChillingworth；　and　partly　that　her　conscious　heart　imputed　suspicionwhere　none　could　have　been　felt；　and　partly　that　both　the　minister　andshe　would　need　the　whole　wide　world　to　breathe　in；　while　they　talkedtogether…　for　all　these　reasons；　Hester　never　though　of　meeting　him　inany　narrower　privacy　than　beneath　the　open　sky。　　At　last；　while　attending　in　a　sick…chamber；　whither　the　Reverend　Mr。Dimmesdale　had　been　summoned　to　make　a　prayer；　she　learnt　that　hehad　gone；　the　day　before；　to　visit　the　Apostle　Eliot；　among　his　Indianconverts。　He　would　probably　return；　by　a　certain　hour；　in　theafternoon　of　the　morrow。　Betimes；　therefore；　the　next　day；　Hester　tooklittle　Pearl…　who　was　necessarily　the　panion　of　all　her　mother'sexpeditions；　however　inconvenient　her　presence…　　and　set　forth。　　The　road；　after　the　two　wayfarers　had　crossed　from　the　peninsulato　the　mainland；　was　no　other　than　a　footpath。　It　straggled　onwardinto　the　mystery　of　the　primeval　forest。　This　hemmed　it　in　sonarrowly；　and　stood　so　black　and　dense　on　either　side；　and　disclosedsuch　imperfect　glimpses　of　the　sky　above；　that；　to　Hester's　mind；　itimaged　not　amiss　the　moral　wilderness　in　which　she　had　so　long　beenwandering。　The　day　was　chill　and　sombre。　Overhead　was　a　grey　expanseof　cloud；　slightly　stirred；　however；　by　a　breeze；　so　that　a　gleam　offlickering　sunshine　might　now　and　then　be　seen　at　its　solitary　playalong　the　path。　This　flitting　cheerfulness　was　always　at　the　fartherextremity　of　some　long　vista　through　the　forest。　The　sportivesunlight…　feebly　sportive；　at　best；　in　the　predominant　pensivenessof　the　day　and　scene…　withdrew　itself　as　they　came　nigh；　and　leftthe　spots　where　it　had　danced　the　drearier；　because　they　had　hopedto　find　them　bright。　　〃Mother；〃　said　little　Pearl；　〃the　sunshine　does　not　love　you。　Itruns　away　and　hides　itself；　because　it　is　afraid　of　something　onyour　bosom。　Now；　see！　There　it　is；　playing；　a　good　way　off。　Standyou　here；　and　let　me　run　and　catch　it。　I　am　but　a　child。　It　will　notflee　from　me；　for　I　wear　nothing　on　my　bosom　yet！〃　　〃Nor　ever　will；　my　child；　I　hope；〃　said　Hester。　　〃And　why　not；　mother？〃　asked　Pearl；　stopping　short　just　at　thebeginning　of　her　race。　〃Will　not　it　e　of　its　own　accord；　when　Iam　a　woman　grown？〃　　〃Run　away；　child；〃　answered　her　mother；　〃and　catch　the　sunshine！It　will　soon　be　gone。〃　　Pearl　set　forth；　at　a　great　pace；　and；　as　Hester　smiled　to　perceive；did　actually　catch　the　sunshine；　and　stood　laughing　in　the　midst　ofit；　all　brightened　by　its　splendour；　and　scintillating　with　thevivacity　excited　by　rapid　motion。　The　light　lingered　about　thelonely　child；　as　if　glad　of　such　a　playmate；　until　her　mother　haddrawn　almost　nigh　enough　to　step　into　the　magic　circle　too。　　〃It　will　go　now；〃　said　Pearl；　shaking　her　head。　　〃See！〃　answered　Hester；　smiling。　〃Now　I　can　stretch　out　my　hand；　andgrasp　some　of　it。〃　　As　she　attempted　to　do　so；　the　sunshine　vanished；　or；　to　judgefrom　the　bright　expression　that　was　dancing　on　Pearl's　features；　hermother　could　have　fancied　that　the　child　had　absorbed　it　into　herself；and　would　give　it　forth　again；　with　a　gleam　about　her　path；　as　theyshould　plunge　into　some　gloomier　shade。　There　was　no　other　attributethat　so　much　impressed　her　with　a　sense　of　new　and　untransmittedvigour　in　Pearl's　nature；　as　this　never…failing　vivacity　of　spirits；she　had　not　the　disease　of　sadness；　which　almost　all　children；　inthese　latter　days；　inherit；　with　the　scrofula；　from　the　troubles　oftheir　ancestors。　Perhaps　this　too　was　a　disease；　and　but　the　reflex　ofthe　wild　energy　with　which　Hester　had　fought　against　her　sorrows；before　Pearl's　birth。　It　was　certainly　a　doubtful　charm；　imparting　ahard；　metallic　lustre　to　the　child's　character。　She　wanted…　whatsome　people　want　thro