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　and　the　mossytree…trunk；　where；　sitting　hand　in　hand；　they　had　mingled　their　sadand　passionate　talk　with　the　melancholy　murmur　of　the　brook。　Howdeeply　had　they　known　each　other　then！　And　was　this　the　man？　Shehardly　knew　him　now！　He；　moving　proudly　past；　enveloped；　as　it　were；in　the　rich　music；　with　the　procession　of　majestic　and　venerablefathers；　he；　so　unattainable　in　his　worldly　position；　and　still　moreso　in　that　far　vista　of　his　unsympathising　thoughts；　through　which　shenow　beheld　him！　Her　spirit　sank　with　the　idea　that　all　must　havebeen　a　delusion；　and　that；　vividly　as　she　had　dreamed　it；　therecould　be　no　real　bond　betwixt　the　clergyman　and　herself。　And　thus　muchof　woman　was　there　in　Hester；　that　she　could　scarcely　forgive　him…least　of　all　now；　when　the　heavy　footstep　of　their　approaching　Fatemight　be　heard；　nearer；　nearer；　nearer！…　for　being　able　sopletely　to　withdraw　himself　from　their　mutual　world；　while　shegroped　darkly；　and　stretched　forth　her　cold　hands；　and　found　him　not。　　Pearl　either　saw　and　responded　to　her　mother's　feelings；　orherself　felt　the　remoteness　and　intangibility　that　had　fallen　aroundthe　minister。　While　the　procession　passed；　the　child　was　uneasy；fluttering　up　and　down；　like　a　bird　on　the　point　of　taking　flight。When　the　whole　had　gone　by；　she　looked　up　into　Hester's　face。　　〃Mother；〃　said　she；　〃was　that　the　same　minister　that　kissed　me　bythe　brook？〃　　〃Hold　thy　peace；　dear　little　Pearl！〃　whispered　her　mother。　〃Wemust　not　always　talk　in　the　market…place　of　what　happens　to　us　inthe　forest。〃　　〃I　could　not　be　sure　that　it　was　he；　so　strange　he　looked；〃continued　the　child。　〃Else　I　would　have　run　to　him；　and　bid　him　kissme　now；　before　all　the　people；　even　as　he　did　yonder　among　the　darkold　trees。　What　would　the　minister　have　said；　mother？　Would　he　haveclapped　his　hand　over　his　heart；　and　scowled　on　me；　and　bid　mebegone？〃　　〃What　should　he　say；　Pearl？〃　answered　Hester；　〃save　that　it　was　notime　to　kiss；　and　that　kisses　are　not　to　be　given　in　the　market…place？Well　for　thee；　foolish　child；　that　thou　didst　not　speak　to　him！〃　　Another　shade　of　the　same　sentiment；　in　reference　to　Mr。　Dimmesdale；was　expressed　by　a　person　whose　eccentricities…　or　insanity；　as　weshould　term　it…　led　her　to　do　what　few　of　the　townspeople　would　haveventured　on；　to　begin　a　conversation　with　the　wearer　of　the　scarletletter；　in　public。　It　was　Mistress　Hibbins；　who；　arrayed　in　greatmagnificence；　with　a　triple　ruff；　a　broidered　stomacher；　a　gown　ofrich　velvet；　and　a　gold…headed　cane；　had　e　forth　to　see　theprocession。　As　this　ancient　lady　had　the　renown　（which　subsequentlycost　her　no　less　a　price　than　her　life）　of　being　a　principal　actorin　all　the　works　of　necromancy　that　were　continually　going　forward；the　crowd　gave　way　before　her；　and　seemed　to　fear　the　touch　of　hergarment；　as　if　it　carried　the　plague　among　its　gorgeous　folds。　Seen　inconjunction　with　Hester　Prynne…　kindly　as　so　many　now　felt　towards　thelatter…　the　dread　inspired　by　Mistress　Hibbins　was　doubled；　and　causeda　general　movement　from　that　part　of　the　market…place　in　which　the　twowomen　stood。　　〃Now；　what　mortal　imagination　could　conceive　it！〃　whispered　theold　lady；　confidentially；　to　Hester。　〃Yonder　divine　man！　That　saint　onearth；　as　the　people　uphold　him　to　be；　and　as…　I　must　needs　say…　hereally　looks！　Who；　now；　that　saw　him　pass　in　the　procession；　wouldthink　how　little　while　it　is　since　he　went　forth　out　of　his　study…chewing　a　Hebrew　text　of　Scripture　in　his　mouth；　I　warrant…　to　take　anairing　in　the　forest！　Aha！　we　know　what　that　means；　Hester　Prynne！But；　truly；　forsooth；　I　find　it　hard　to　believe　him　the　same　man。　Manya　church…member　saw　I；　walking　behind　the　music；　that　has　danced　inthe　same　measure　with　me；　when　Somebody　was　fiddler；　and；　it　might　be；an　Indian　powwow　or　a　Lapland　wizard　changing　hands　with　us！　That　isbut　a　trifle；　when　a　woman　knows　the　world。　But　this　minister！　Couldstthou　surely　tell；　Hester；　whether　he　was　the　same　man　that　encounteredthee　on　the　forest…path？〃　　〃Madam；　I　know　not　of　what　you　speak；〃　answered　Hester　Prynne；feeling　Mistress　Hibbins　to　be　of　infirm　mind；　yet　strangelystartled　and　awe…stricken　by　the　confidence　with　which　she　affirmeda　personal　connection　between　so　many　persons　（herself　among　them）　andthe　Evil　One。　〃It　is　not　for　me　to　talk　lightly　of　a　learned　and　piousminister　of　the　Word；　like　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale！〃　　〃Fie；　woman；　fie！〃　cried　the　old　lady；　shaking　her　finger　at　Hester。〃Dost　thou　think　I　have　been　to　the　forest　so　many　times；　and　have　yetno　skill　to　judge　who　else　has　been　there？　Yea；　though　no　leaf　ofthe　wild　garlands；　which　they　wore　while　they　danced；　be　left　in　theirhair！　I　know　thee；　Hester；　for　I　behold　the　token。　We　may　all　see　itin　the　sunshine；　and　it　glows　like　a　red　flame　in　the　dark。　Thouwearest　it　openly；　so　there　need　be　no　question　about　that。　But　thisminister！　Let　me　tell　thee；　in　thine　ear！　When　the　Black　Man　seesone　of　his　own　servants；　signed　and　sealed；　so　shy　of　owning　to　thebond　as　is　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　he　hath　a　way　of　orderingmatters　so　that　the　mark　shall　be　disclosed　in　open　daylight　to　theeyes　of　all　the　world！　What　is　it　that　the　minister　seeks　to　hide；with　his　hand　always　over　his　heart？　Ha；　Hester　Prynne！〃　　〃What　is　it；　good　Mistress　Hibbins？〃　eagerly　asked　little　Pearl。〃Hast　thou　seen　it？〃　　〃No　matter；　darling！〃　responded　Mistress　Hibbins；　making　Pearl　aprofound　reverence。　〃Thou　thyself　wilt　see　it；　one　time　or　another。They　say；　child；　thou　art　of　the　lineage　of　the　Prince　of　the　Air！Wilt　thou　ride　with　me；　some　fine　night；　to　see　thy　father？　Thenthou　shalt　know　wherefore　the　minister　keeps　his　hand　over　his　heart！〃　　Laughing　so　shrilly　that　all　the　market…place　could　hear　her；　theweird　old　gentlewoman　took　her　departure。　　By　this　time　the　preliminary　prayer　had　been　offered　in　themeeting…house；　and　the　accents　of　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale　wereheard　mencing　his　discourse。　An　irresistible　feeling　kept　Hesternear　the　spot。　As　the　sacred　edifice　was　too　much　thronged　to　admitanother　auditor；　she　took　up　her　position　close　beside　the　scaffold　ofthe　pillory。　It　was　in　sufficient　proximity　to　bring　the　wholesermon　to　her　ears；　in　the　shape　of　an　indistinct；　but　varied；murmur　and　flow　of　the　minister's　very　peculiar　voice。　　The　vocal　organ　was　in　itself　a　rich　endowment；　insomuch　that　alistener；　prehending　nothing　of　the　language　in　which　thepreacher　spoke；　might　still　have　been　swayed　to　and　fro　by　the　meretone　and　cadence。　Like　all　other　music；　it　breathed　passion　andpathos；　and　emotions　high　or　tender；　in　a　tongue　native　to　the　humanheart；　wherever　educated。　Muffled　as　the　sound　was　by　its　passagethrough　the　church　walls；　Hester　Prynne　listened　with　such　intentness；and　sympathised　so　intimately；　that　the　sermon　had　throughout　ameaning　for　her；　entirely　apart　from　its　indistinguishable　words。These；　perhaps；　if　more　distinctly　heard；　might　have　been　only　agrosser　medium；　and　have　clogged　the　spiritual　sense。　Now　she　caughtthe　low　undertone；　as　of　the　wind　sinking　down　to　repose　itself；then　ascended　with　it；　as　it　rose　through　progressive　gradations　ofsweetness　and　power；　until　its　volume　seemed　to　envelop　her　with　anatmosphere　of　awe　and　solemn　grandeur。　And　yet；　majestic　as　thevoice　sometimes　became；　there　was　for　ever　in　it　an　essentialcharacter　of　plaintiveness；　a　loud　or　low　expression　of　anguish…　thewhisper；　or　the　shriek；　as　it　might　be　conceived；　of　sufferinghumanity；　that　touched　a　sensibility　in　every　bosom！　At　times　thisdeep　strain　of　pathos　was　all　that　could　be　heard；　and　scarcely　heard；sighing　amid　a　desolate　silence。　But　even　when　the　minister's　voicegrew　high　and　manding…　when　it　gushed　irrepressibly　upward…　when　itassumed　its　utmost　breadth　and　power；　so　overfilling　the　church　asto　burst　its　way　through　the　solid　walls；　and　diffuse　itself　in　theopen　air…　still；　if　the　auditor　listened　intently；　and　for　thepurpose；　he　could　detect　the　same　cry　of　pain。　What　was　it？　Theplaint　of　a　human　heart；　sorrow…laden；　perchance　guilty；　tellingits　secret；　whether　of　guilt　or　sorrow；　to　the　great　heart　of　mankind；beseeching　its　sympathy　or　forgiveness…　at　every　moment…　in　eachaccent…　and　never　in　vain！　It　was　this　profound　and　continualundertone　that　gave　the　clergyman　his　most　appropriate　power。　　During　all　this　time；　Hester　stood；　statue…like；　at　the　foot　ofthe　scaffold。　If　the　minister's　voice　had　not　kept　her　there；　therewould　nevertheless　have　been　an　inevitable　magism　in　that　spot；whence　she　dated　the　first　hour　of　her　life　of　ignominy。　There　was　asense　within　her…　to　ill…defined　to　be　made　a　thought；　but　weighingheavily　on　her　mind…　that　her　whole　orb　of　life；　both　before　andafter；　was　connected　with　this　spot；　as　with　the　one　point　that　gaveit　unity。　　Little　Pearl；　meanother's　side；　and　wasplaying　at　her　own　will　about　the　market…place。　She　made　the　sombrecrowd　cheerful　by　her　erratic　and　glistening　ray；　even　as　a　bird　ofbright　plumage　illuminates　a　whole　tree　of　dusty　foliage；　by　dartingto　and　fro；　half　seen　and　half　concealed　amid　the　twilight　of　theclustering　leaves。　She　had　an　undulating；　but；　oftentimes；　a　sharp　andirregular　movement。　It　indicated　the　restless　vivacity　of　herspirit；　which　to…day　was　doubly　indefatigable　in　its　tiptoe　dance；because　it　was　played　upon　and　vibrated　with　her　mother's　disquietude。Whenever　Pearl　saw　anything　to　excite　her　ever　active　and　wanderingcuriosity；　she　flew　thitherward；　and；　as　we　might　say；　seized　uponthat　man　or　thing　as　her　own　property；　so　far　as　she　desired　it；　butwithout　yielding　the　minutest　degree　of　control　over　her　motions　inrequital。　The　Puritans　looked　on；　and；　if　they　smiled；　were　none　theless　inclined　to　pronounce　the　child　a　demon　offspring；　from　theindescribable　charm　of　beauty　and　eccentricity　that　shone　throughher　little　figure；　and　sparkled　with　its　activity。　She　ran　andlooked　the　wild　Indian　in　the　face；　and　he　grew　conscious　of　anature　wilder　than　his　own。　Thence；　with　native　audacity；　but　stillwith　a　reserve　as　characteristic；　she　flew　into　the　midst　of　a　groupof　mariners；　the　swarthy…cheeked　wild　men　of　the　ocean；　as　the　Indianswere　of　the　land；　and　they　gazed　wonderingly　and　admiringly　atPearl；　as　if　a　flake　of　the　sea…foam　had　taken　the　shape　of　a　littlemaid；　and　were　gifted　with　a　soul　of　the　sea…fire；　that　flashesbeneath　the　prow　in　the　night…time。　　One　of　these　seafaring　men…　the　shipmaster；　indeed；　who　had　spokento　Hester　Prynne…　was　so　smitten　with　Pearl's　aspect；　that　heattempted　to　lay　hands　upon　her；　with　purpose　to　snatch　a　kiss。Finding　it　as　impossible　to　touch　her　as　to　catch　a　humming…bird　inthe　air；　he　took　from　his　hat　the　gold　chain　that　was　twisted　aboutit；　and　threw　it　to　the　child。　Pearl　immediately　twined　it　aroundher　neck　and　waist；　with　such　happy　skill；　that；　once　seen　there；　itbecame　a　part　of　her；　and　it　was　difficult　to　imagine　her　without　it。　　〃Thy　mother　is　yonder　woman　with　the　scarlet　letter；〃　said　theseaman。　〃Wilt　thou　carry　her　a　message　from　me？〃　　〃If　the　message　pleases　me；　I　will；〃　answered　Pearl。　　〃Then　tell　her；〃　rejoined　he；　〃that　I　spake　again　with　theblack…a…visaged；　hump…shouldered　old　doctor；　and　he　engages　to　bringhis　friend；　the　gentleman　she　wots　of；　aboard　with　him。　So　let　thymother　take　no　thought；　save　for　herself　and　thee。　Wilt　thou　tellher　this；　thou　witch…baby？〃　　〃Mistress　Hibbins　says　my　father　is　the　Prince　of　the　Air！〃　criedPearl；　with　a　naughty　smile。　〃If　thou　callest　me　that　ill　name；　Ishall　tell　him　of　thee；　and　he　will　chase　thy　ship　with　a　tempest！〃　　Pursuing　a　zigzag　course　across　the　market…place；　the　child　returnedto　her　mother；　and　municated　what　the　mariner　had　said。　Hester'sstrong；　calm；　steadfastly　enduring　spirit　almost　sank；　at　last；　onbeholding　this　dark　and　grim　countenance　of　an　inevitable　doom；　which…at　the　moment　when　a　passage　seemed　to　open　for　the　minister　andherself　out　of　their　labyrinth　of　misery…　showed　itself；　with　anunrelenting　smile；　right　in　the　midst　of　their　path。　　With　her　mind　harassed　by　the　terrible　perplexity　in　which　theshipmaster's　intelligence　involved　her；　she　was　also　subjected　toanother　trial。　There　were　many　people　present；　from　the　countryround　about；　who　had　often　heard　scarlet　letter；　and　to　whom　it　hadbeen　made　terrific　by　a　hundred　false　or　exaggerated　rumours；　butwho　had　never　beheld　it　with　their　own　bodily　eyes。　These；　afterexhaus