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e　with　it！　Begin　allanew！　Hast　thou　exhausted　possibility　in　the　failure　of　this　orial？　Not　so！　The　future　is　yet　full　of　trial　and　success。　There　ishappiness　to　be　enjoyed！　There　is　good　to　be　done！　Exchange　this　falselife　of　thine　for　a　true　one。　Be；　if　thy　spirit　summon　thee　to　sucha　mission；　the　teacher　and　apostle　of　the　red　men。　Or…　as　is　morethy　nature…　be　a　scholar　and　a　sage　among　the　wisest　and　the　mostrenowned　of　the　cultivated　world。　Preach！　Write！　Act！　Do　anything；save　to　lie　down　and　die！　Give　up　this　name　of　Arthur　Dimmesdale；and　make　thyself　another；　and　a　high　one；　such　as　thou　canst　wearwithout　fear　or　shame。　Why　wouldst　thou　tarry　so　much　as　one　other　dayin　the　torments　that　have　so　gnawed　into　thy　life！…　that　have　madethee　feeble　to　will　and　to　do！…　that　will　leave　thee　powerless　even　torepent！　Up；　and　away！〃　　〃O　Hester！〃　cried　Arthur　Dimmesdale；　in　whose　eyes　a　fitful　light；kindled　by　her　enthusiasm；　flashed　up　and　died　away；　〃thou　tellestof　running　a　race　to　a　man　whose　knees　are　tottering　beneath　him！　Imust　die　here！　There　is　not　the　strength　or　courage　left　me　to　ventureinto　the　wide；　strange；　difficult　world；　alone！〃　　It　was　the　last　expression　of　the　despondency　of　a　broken　spirit。　Helacked　energy　to　grasp　the　better　fortune　that　seemed　within　hisreach。　　He　repeated　the　word。　　〃Alone；　Hester！〃　　〃Thou　shalt　not　go　alone！〃　answered　she；　in　a　deep　whisper。　　　Then；　all　was　spoken！　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XVIII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　A　FLOOD　OF　SUNSHINE。　　ARTHUR　DIMMESDALE　gazed　into　Hester's　face　with　a　look　in　which　hopeand　joy　shone　out；　indeed；　but　with　fear　betwixt　them；　and　a　kind　ofhorror　at　her　boldness；　who　had　spoken　what　he　vaguely　hinted　at；but　dared　not　speak。　　But　Hester　Prynne；　with　a　mind　of　native　courage　and　activity；　andfor　so　long　a　period　not　merely　estranged；　but　outlawed；　from　society；had　habituated　herself　to　such　latitude　of　speculation　as　wasaltogether　foreign　to　the　clergyman。　She　had　wandered；　without　rule　orguidance；　in　a　moral　wilderness；　as　vast；　as　intricate　and　shadowy；　asthe　untamed　forest；　amid　the　gloom　of　which　they　were　now　holding　acolloquy　that　was　to　decide　their　fate。　Her　intellect　and　heart　hadtheir　home；　as　it　were；　in　desert　places；　where　she　roamed　as　freelyas　the　wild　Indian　in　his　woods。　For　years　past　she　had　looked　fromthis　estranged　point　of　view　at　human　institutions；　and　whateverpriests　or　legislators　had　established；　criticising　all　with　hardlymore　reverence　than　the　Indian　would　feel　for　the　clerical　band；　thejudicial　robe；　the　pillory；　the　gallows；　the　fireside；　or　thechurch。　The　tendency　of　her　fate　and　fortunes　had　been　to　set　herfree。　The　scarlet　letter　was　her　passport　into　regions　where　otherwomen　dared　not　tread。　Shame；　Despair；　Solitude！　These　had　been　herteachers…　stern　and　wild　ones…　and　they　had　made　her　strong；　buttaught　her　much　amiss。　　The　minister；　on　the　other　hand；　had　never　gone　through　anexperience　calculated　to　lead　him　beyond　the　scope　of　generallyreceived　laws；　although；　in　a　single　instance；　he　had　so　fearfullytransgressed　one　of　the　most　sacred　of　them。　But　this　had　been　a　sinof　passion；　not　of　principle；　nor　even　purpose。　Since　that　wretchedepoch；　he　had　watched；　with　morbid　zeal　and　minuteness；　not　hisacts…　for　those　it　was　easy　to　arrange…　but　each　breath　of　emotion；and　his　every　thought。　At　the　head　of　the　social　system；　as　theclergyman　of　that　day　stood；　he　was　only　the　more　trammelled　by　itsregulations；　its　principles；　and　even　its　prejudices。　As　a　priest；　theframework　of　his　order　inevitably　hemmed　him　in。　As　a　man　who　had　oncesinned；　but　who　kept　his　conscience　all　alive　and　painfullysensitive　by　the　fretting　of　an　unhealed　wound；　he　might　have　beensupposed　safer　within　the　line　of　virtue　than　if　he　had　never　sinnedat　all。　　Thus；　we　seem　to　see　that；　as　regarded　Hester　Prynne；　the　wholeseven　years　of　outlaw　and　ignominy　had　been　little　other　than　apreparation　for　this　very　hour。　But　Arthur　Dimmesdale！　Were　such　a　manonce　more　to　fall；　what　plea　could　be　urged　in　extenuation　of　hiscrime？　None；　unless　it　avail　him　somewhat；　that　he　was　broken　downby　long　and　exquisite　suffering；　that　his　mind　was　darkened　andconfused　by　the　very　remorse　which　harrowed　it；　that；　betweenfleeing　as　an　avowed　criminal；　and　remaining　as　a　hypocrite；conscience　might　find　it　hard　to　strike　the　balance；　that　it　was　humanto　avoid　the　peril　of　death　and　infamy；　and　the　inscrutablemachinations　of　an　enemy；　that；　finally；　to　this　poor　pilgrim；　onhis　dreary　and　desert　path；　faint；　sick；　miserable；　there　appeared　aglimpse　of　human　affection　and　sympathy；　a　new　life；　and　a　true　one；in　exchange　for　the　heavy　doom　which　he　was　now　expiating。　And　bethe　stern　and　sad　truth　spoken；　that　the　breach　which　guilt　has　oncemade　into　the　human　soul　is　never；　in　this　mortal　state；　repaired。It　may　be　watched　and　guarded；　so　that　the　enemy　shall　not　force　hisway　again　into　the　citadel；　and　might　even；　in　his　subsequentassaults；　select　some　other　avenue；　in　preference　to　that　where　he　hadformerly　succeeded。　But　there　is　still　the　ruined　wall；　and；　nearit；　the　stealthy　tread　of　the　foe　that　would　win　over　again　hisunforgotten　triumph。　　The　struggle；　if　there　were　one；　need　not　be　described。　Let　itsuffice；　that　the　clergyman　resolved　to　flee；　and　not　alone。　　〃If；　in　all　these　past　seven　years；〃　thought　he；　〃I　could　recall　oneinstant　of　peace　or　hope；　I　would　yet　endure；　for　the　sake　of　thatearnest　of　Heaven's　mercy。　But　now…　since　I　am　irrevocably　doomed…wherefore　should　I　not　snatch　the　solace　allowed　to　the　condemnedculprit　before　his　execution？　Or；　if　this　be　the　path　to　a　betterlife；　as　Hester　would　persuade　me；　I　surely　give　up　no　fairer　prospectby　pursuing　it！　Neither　can　I　any　longer　live　without　herpanionship；　so　powerful　is　she　to　sustain…　so　tender　to　soothe！　OThou　to　whom　I　dare　not　lift　mine　eyes；　wilt　Thou　yet　pardon　me！〃　　〃Thou　wilt　go！〃　said　Hester　calmly；　as　he　met　her　glance。　　The　decision　once　made；　a　glow　of　strange　enjoyment　threw　itsflickering　brightness　over　the　trouble　of　his　breast。　It　was　theexhilarating　effect…　upon　a　prisoner　just　escaped　from　the　dungeonof　his　own　heart…　of　breathing　the　wild；　free　atmosphere　of　anunredeemed；　unchristianised；　lawless　region。　His　spirit　rose；　as　itwere；　with　a　bound；　and　attained　a　nearer　prospect　of　the　sky；　thanthroughout　all　the　misery　which　had　kept　him　grovelling　on　theearth。　Of　a　deeply　religious　temperament；　there　was　inevitably　a　tingeof　the　devotional　in　his　mind。　　〃Do　I　feel　joy　again？〃　cried　he；　wondering　at　himself。　〃Methoughtthe　germ　of　it　was　dead　in　me！　O　Hester；　thou　art　my　better　angel！　Iseem　to　have　flung　myself…　sick；　sin…stained；　and　sorrow…blackened…down　upon　these　forest…leaves；　and　to　have　risen　up　all　made　anew；　andwith　new　powers　to　glorify　Him　that　hath　been　merciful！　This　isalready　the　better　life！　Why　did　we　not　find　it　sooner？〃　　〃Let　us　not　look　back；〃　answered　Hester　Prynne。　〃the　past　is　gone！Wherefore　should　we　linger　upon　it　now？　See！　With　this　symbol；　Iundo　it　all；　and　make　it　as　it　had　never　been！〃　　So　speaking；　she　undid　the　clasp　that　fastened　the　scarlet　letter；and；　taking　it　from　her　bosom；　threw　it　to　a　distance　among　thewithered　leaves。　The　mystic　token　alighted　on　the　hither　verge　ofthe　stream。　With　a　hand's　breadth　farther　flight　it　would　havefallen　into　the　water；　and　have　given　the　little　brook　another　woeto　carry　onward；　besides　the　unintelligible　tale　which　it　still　keptmurmuring　about。　But　there　lay　the　embroidered　letter；　glittering　likea　lost　jewel；　which　some　ill…fated　wanderer　might　pick　up；　andthenceforth　be　haunted　by　strange　phantoms　of　guilt；　sinkings　of　theheart；　and　unaccountable　misfortune。　　The　stigma　gone；　Hester　heaved　a　long；　deep　sigh；　in　which　theburden　of　shame　and　anguish　departed　from　her　spirit。　Oh；　exquisiterelief！　She　had　not　known　the　weight；　until　she　felt　the　freedom！　Byanother　impulse；　she　took　off　the　formal　cap　that　confined　her　hair；and　down　it　fell　upon　her　shoulders；　dark　and　rich；　with　at　once　ashadow　and　a　light　in　its　abundance；　and　imparting　the　charm　ofsoftness　to　her　features。　There　played　around　her　mouth；　and　beamedout　of　her　eyes；　a　radiant　and　tender　smile；　that　seemed　gushingfrom　the　very　heart　of　womanhood。　A　crimson　flush　was　glowing　on　hercheek；　that　had　been　long　so　pale。　Her　sex；　her　youth；　and　the　wholerichness　of　the　beauty；　came　back　from　what　men　call　the　irrevocablepast；　and　clustered　themselves；　with　her　maiden　hope；　and　ahappiness　before　unknown；　within　the　magic　circle　of　this　hour。　And；as　if　the　gloom　of　the　earth　and　sky　had　been　but　the　effluence　ofthese　two　mortal　hearts；　it　vanished　with　their　sorrow。　All　at　once；as　with　a　sudden　smile　of　heaven；　forth　burst　the　sunshine；　pouringa　very　flood　into　the　obscure　forest；　gladdening　each　green　leaf；transmuting　the　yellow　fallen　ones　to　gold；　and　gleaming　adown　thegrey　trunks　of　the　solemn　trees。　The　objects　that　had　made　a　shadowhitherto；　embodied　the　brightness　now。　The　course　of　the　littlebrook　might　be　traced　by　its　merry　gleam　afar　into　the　wood's　heart　ofmystery；　which　had　bee　a　mystery　of　joy。　　Such　was　the　sympathy　of　Nature…　that　wild；　heathen　Nature　of　theforest；　never　subjugated　by　human　law；　nor　illumined　by　highertruth…　with　the　bliss　of　these　two　spirits！　Love；　whether　newlyborn；　or　aroused　from　a　death…like　slumber；　must　always　create　asunshine；　filling　the　heart　so　full　of　radiance；　that　it　overflowsupon　the　outward　world。　Had　the　forest　still　kept　its　gloom；　itwould　have　been　bright　in　Hester's　eyes；　and　bright　in　ArthurDimmesdale's！　　Hester　looked　at　him　with　the　thrill　of　another　joy。　　〃Thou　must　know　Pearl！〃　said　she。　〃Our　little　Pearl！　Thou　hastseen　her…　yes；　I　know　it！…　but　thou　wilt　see　her　now　with　othereyes。　She　is　a　strange　child！　I　hardly　prehend　her！　But　thou　wiltlove　her　dearly；　as　I　do；　and　wilt　advise　me　how　to　deal　with　her。〃　　〃Dost　thou　think　the　child　will　be　glad　to　know　me？〃　asked　theminister；　somewhat　uneasily。　〃I　have　long　shrunk　from　children；because　they　often　show　a　distrust…　a　backwardness　to　be　familiar　withme。　I　have　even　been　afraid　of　little　Pearl！〃　　〃Ah；　that　was　sad！〃　answered　the　mother。　〃But　she　will　love　theedearly；　and　thou　her。　She　is　not　far　off。　I　will　call　her！　Pearl！Pearl！〃　　〃I　see　the　child；〃　observed　the　minister。　〃Yonder　she　is；　standingin　a　streak　of　sunshine；　a　good　way　off；　on　the　other　side　of　thebrook；　So　thou　thinkest　the　child　will　love　me？〃　　Hester　smiled；　and　again　called　to　Pearl；　who　was　visible；　at　somedistance；　as　the　minister　had　described　her；　like　abright…apparelled　vision；　in　a　sunbeam；　which　fell　down　upon　herthrough　an　arch　of　boughs。　The　ray　quivered　to　and　fro；　making　herfigure　dim　or　distinct…　now　like　a　real　child；　now　like　a　child'sspirit…　as　the　splendour　went　and　came　again。　She　heard　her　mother'svoice；　and　approached　slowly　through　the　forest。　　Pearl　had　not　found　the　hour　pass　wearisomely；　while　her　mothersat　talking　with　the　clergyman。　The　great　black　forest…　stern　as　itshowed　itself　to　those　who　brought　the　guilt　and　troubles　of　the　worldinto　its　bosom…　became　the　playmate　of　the　lonely　infant；　as　well　asit　knew　how。　Sombre　as　it　was；　it　put　on　the　kindest　of　its　moods　towele　her。　It　offered　her　the　partridge…berries；　the　growth　of　thepreceding　autumn；　but　ripening　only　in　the　spring；　and　now　red　asdrops　of　blood　upon　the　withered　leaves。　These　Pearl　gathered；　and　waspleased　with　their　wild　flavour。　The　small　denizens　of　thewilderness　hardly　took　pains　to　move　out　of　her　path。　A　partridge；indeed；　with　a　brood　of　ten　behind　her；　ran　forward　threatingly；　butsoon　repented　of　her　fierceness；　and　clucked　to　her　young　ones　notto　be　afraid。　A　pigeon；　alone　on　a　low　branch；　allowed　Pearl　to　ebeneath；　and　uttered　a　sound　as　much　of　greeting　as　alarm。　A　squirrel；from　the　lofty　depths　of　his　domestic　tree；　chattered　either　inanger　or　merriment…　for　a　squirrel　is　such　a　choleric　and　humorouslittle　personage；　that　it　is　hard　to　distinguish　between　his　moods…　sohe　chattered　at　the　child；　and　flung　down　a　nut　upon　her　head。　Itwas　a　last　year's　nut；　and　already　gnawed　by　his　sharp　tooth。　A　fox；startled　from　his　sleep　by　her　light　footstep　on　the　leaves；　lookedinquisitively　at　Pearl；　as　doubting　whether　it　were　better　to　stealoff；　or　renew　his　nap　on　the　same　spot。　A　wolf；　it　is　said…　but　herethe　tale　has　surely