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；　it　seemed　never　to　haveknown　a　youthful　era。　Before　this　ugly　edifice；　and　between　it　and　thewheel…track　of　the　street；　was　a　grass…plot；　much　overgrown　withburdock；　pig…weed；　apple…peru；　and　such　unsightly　vegetation；　whichevidently　found　something　congenial　in　the　soil　that　had　so　earlyborne　the　black　flower　of　civilised　society；　a　prison。　But；　on　oneside　of　the　portal；　and　rooted　almost　at　the　threshold；　was　a　wildrose…bush；　covered；　in　this　month　of　June；　with　its　delicate　gems；which　might　be　imagined　to　offer　their　fragrance　and　fragile　beauty　tothe　prisoner　as　he　went　in；　and　to　the　condemned　criminal　as　he　cameforth　to　his　doom；　in　token　that　the　deep　heart　of　Nature　could　pityand　be　kind　to　him。　　This　rose…bush；　by　a　strange　chance；　has　been　kept　alive　in　history；but　whether　it　had　merely　survived　out　of　the　stern　old　wilderness；　solong　after　the　fall　of　the　gigantic　pines　and　oaks　that　originallyovershadowed　it…　or　whether；　as　there　is　fair　authority　for　believing；it　had　sprung　up　under　the　footsteps　of　the　sainted　Ann　Hutchinson；　asshe　entered　the　prison…door…　we　shall　not　take　upon　us　to　determine。Finding　it　so　directly　on　the　threshold　of　our　narrative；　which　is　nowabout　to　issue　from　that　inauspicious　portal；　we　could　hardly　dootherwise　than　pluck　one　of　its　flowers；　and　present　it　to　the　reader。It　may　serve；　let　us　hope；　to　symbolise　some　sweet　moral　blossom；　thatmay　be　found　along　the　track；　or　relieve　the　darkening　close　of　a　taleof　human　frailty　and　sorrow。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　II。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　MARKET…PLACE。　　THE　grass…plot　before　the　jail；　in　Prison　Lane；　on　a　certainsummer　morning；　not　less　than　two　centuries　ago；　was　occupied　by　apretty　large　number　of　the　inhabitants　of　Boston；　all　with　theireyes　intently　fastened　on　the　iron…clamped　oaken　door。　Amongst　anyother　population；　or　at　a　later　period　in　the　history　of　NewEngland；　the　grim　rigidity　that　petrified　the　bearded　physiognomies　ofthese　good　people　would　have　augured　some　awful　business　in　hand。　Itcould　have　betokened　nothing　short　of　the　anticipated　execution　ofsome　noted　culprit；　on　whom　the　sentence　of　a　legal　tribunal　had　butconfirmed　the　verdict　of　public　sentiment。　But；　in　that　early　severityof　the　Puritan　character；　an　inference　of　this　kind　could　not　soindubitably　be　drawn。　It　might　be；　that　a　sluggish　bond…servant；　or　anundutiful　child；　whom　his　parents　had　given　over　to　the　civilauthority；　was　to　be　corrected　at　the　whipping…post。　It　might　be；　thatan　Antinomian；　a　Quaker；　or　other　heterodox　religionist；　was　to　bescourged　out　of　the　town；　or　an　idle　and　vagrant　Indian；　whom　thewhite　man's　fire…water　had　made　riotous　about　the　streets；　was　to　bedriven　with　stripes　into　the　shadow　of　the　forest。　It　might　be；　too；that　a　witch；　like　old　Mistress　Hibbins；　the　bitter…tempered　widowof　the　magistrate；　was　to　die　upon　the　gallows。　In　either　case；there　was　very　much　the　same　solemnity　of　demeanour　on　the　part　of　thespectators；　as　befitted　a　people　amongst　whom　religion　and　law　werealmost　identical；　and　in　whose　character　both　were　so　thoroughlyinterfused；　that　the　mildest　and　the　severest　acts　of　publicdiscipline　were　alike　made　venerable　and　awful。　Meagre；　indeed；　andcold；　was　the　sympathy　that　a　transgressor　might　look　for；　from　suchbystanders；　at　the　scaffold。　On　the　other　hand；　a　penalty　which；　inour　days；　would　infer　a　degree　of　mocking　infamy　and　ridicule；　mightthen　be　invested　with　almost　as　stern　a　dignity　as　the　punishment　ofdeath　itself。　　It　was　a　circumstance　to　be　noted；　on　the　summer　morning　when　ourstory　begins　its　course；　that　the　women；　of　whom　there　were　several　inthe　crowd；　appeared　to　take　a　peculiar　interest　in　whatever　penalinfliction　might　be　expected　to　ensue。　The　age　had　not　so　muchrefinement；　that　any　sense　of　impropriety　restrained　the　wearers　ofpetticoat　and　farthingale　from　stepping　forth　into　the　public　ways；and　wedging　their　not　unsubstantial　persons；　if　occasion　were；　intothe　throng　nearest　to　the　scaffold　at　an　execution。　Morally；　as　wellas　materially；　there　was　a　coarser　fibre　in　those　wives　and　maidens　ofold　English　birth　and　breeding；　than　in　their　fair　descendants；separated　from　them　by　a　series　of　six　or　seven　generations；　for；throughout　that　chain　of　ancestry；　every　successive　mother　hastransmitted　to　her　child　a　fainter　bloom；　a　more　delicate　andbriefer　beauty；　and　a　slighter　physical　frame；　if　not　a　character　ofless　force　and　solidity；　than　her　own。　The　women　who　were　now　standingabout　the　prison…door　stood　within　less　than　half　a　century　of　theperiod　when　the　man…like　Elizabeth　had　been　the　not　altogetherunsuitable　representative　of　the　sex。　They　were　her　country…women；　andthe　beef　and　ale　of　their　native　land；　with　a　moral　diet　not　a　whitmore　refined；　entered　largely　into　their　position。　The　brightmorning　sun；　therefore；　shone　on　broad　shoulders　and　well…developedbusts；　and　on　round　and　ruddy　cheeks；　that　had　ripened　in　thefar…off　island；　and　had　hardly　yet　grown　paler　or　thinner　in　theatmosphere　of　New　England。　There　was；　moreover；　a　boldness　androtundity　of　speech　among　these　matrons；　as　most　of　them　seemed　to　be；that　would　startle　us　at　the　present　day；　whether　in　respect　to　itspurport　or　its　volume　of　tone。　　〃Goodwives；〃　said　a　hard…featured　dame　of　fifty；　〃I'll　tell　ye　apiece　of　my　mind。　It　would　be　greatly　for　the　public　behoof；　if　wewomen；　being　of　mature　age　and　church…members　in　good　repute；　shouldhave　the　handling　of　such　malefactresses　as　this　Hester　Prynne。　Whatthink　ye；　gossips？　If　the　hussy　stood　up　for　judgment　before　usfive；　that　are　now　here　in　a　knot　together；　would　she　e　off　withsuch　a　sentence　as　the　worshipful　magistrates　have　awarded？　Marry；　Itrow　not！〃　　〃People　say；〃　said　another；　〃that　the　Reverend　Master　Dimmesdale；her　godly　pastor；　takes　it　very　grievously　to　heart　that　such　ascandal　should　have　e　upon　his　congregation。〃　　〃The　magistrates　are　God…fearing　gentlemen；　but　merciful　overmuch…that　is　a　truth；〃　added　a　third　autumnal　matron。　〃At　the　very　least；they　should　have　put　the　brand　of　a　hot　iron　on　Hester　Prynne'sforehead。　Madam　Hester　would　have　winced　at　that；　I　warrant　me。　Butshe…　the　naughty　baggage…　little　will　she　care　what　they　put　uponthe　bodice　of　her　gown！　Why；　look　you；　she　may　cover　it　with　a　brooch；or　such　like　heathenish　adornment；　and　so　walk　the　streets　as　brave　asever！〃　　〃Ah；　but；〃　interposed；　more　softly；　a　young　wife；　holding　a　child　bythe　hand；　〃Let　her　cover　the　mark　as　she　will；　the　pang　of　it　willbe　always　in　her　heart。〃　　〃What　do　we　talk　of　marks　and　brands；　whether　on　the　bodice　of　hergown；　or　the　flesh　of　her　forehead？〃　cried　another　female；　the　ugliestas　well　as　the　most　pitiless　of　these　self…constituted　judges。　〃Thiswoman　has　brought　shame　upon　us　all；　and　ought　to　die。　Is　there　notlaw　for　it？　Truly　there　is；　both　in　the　Scripture　and　thestatute…book。　Then　let　the　magistrates；　who　have　made　it　of　no　effect；thank　themselves　if　their　own　wives　and　daughters　go　astray！〃　　〃Mercy　on　us；　goodwife；〃　exclaimed　a　man　in　the　crowd；　〃is　thereno　virtue　in　woman；　save　what　springs　from　a　wholesome　fear　of　thegallows？　That　is　the　hardest　word　yet！　Hush；　now；　gossips！　for　thelock　is　turning　in　the　prison…door；　and　here　es　Mistress　Prynneherself。〃　　The　door　of　the　jail　being　flung　open　from　within；　there　appeared；in　the　first　place；　like　a　black　shadow　emerging　into　sunshine；　thegrim　and　grisly　presence　of　the　town…beadle；　with　a　sword　by　his　side；and　his　staff　of　office　in　his　hand。　This　personage　prefigured　andrepresented　in　his　aspect　the　whole　dismal　severity　of　the　Puritaniccode　of　law；　which　it　was　his　business　to　administer　in　its　finaland　closest　application　to　the　offender。　Stretching　forth　the　officialstaff　in　his　left　hand；　he　laid　his　right　upon　the　shoulder　of　a　youngwoman；　whom　he　thus　drew　forward；　until；　on　the　threshold　of　theprison…door；　she　repelled　him；　by　an　action　marked　with　naturaldignity　and　force　of　character；　and　stepped　into　the　open　air；　as　ifby　her　own　free　will。　She　bore　in　her　arms　a　child；　a　baby　of　somethree　months　old；　who　winked　and　turned　aside　its　little　face　from　thetoo　vivid　light　of　day；　because　its　existence；　heretofore；　had　broughtit　acquainted　only　with　the　grey　twilight　of　a　dungeon；　or　otherdarksome　apartment　of　the　prison。　　When　the　young　woman…　the　mother　of　this　child…　stood　fully　revealedbefore　the　crowd；　it　seemed　to　be　her　first　impulse　to　clasp　theinfant　closely　to　her　bosom；　not　so　much　by　an　impulse　of　motherlyaffection；　as　that　she　might　thereby　conceal　a　certain　token；　whichwas　wrought　or　fastened　into　her　dress。　In　a　moment；　however；　wiselyjudging　that　one　token　of　her　shame　would　but　poorly　serve　to　hideanother；　she　took　the　baby　on　her　arm；　and；　with　a　burning　blush；and　yet　a　haughty　smile；　and　a　glance　that　would　not　be　abashed；looked　around　at　her　townspeople　and　neighbours。　On　the　breast　ofher　gown；　in　fine　red　cloth；　surrounded　with　an　elaborate　embroideryand　fantastic　flourishes　of　gold　thread；　appeared　the　letter　A。　It　wasso　artistically　done；　and　with　so　much　fertility　and　gorgeousluxuriance　of　fancy；　that　it　had　all　the　effect　of　a　last　andfitting　decoration　to　the　apparel　which　she　wore；　and　which　was　of　asplendour　in　accordance　with　the　taste　of　the　age；　but　greatlybeyond　what　was　allowed　by　the　sumptuary　regulations　of　the　colony。　　The　young　woman　was　tall；　with　a　figure　of　perfect　elegance　on　alarge　scale。　She　had　dark　and　abundant　hair；　so　glossy　that　it　threwoff　the　sunshine　with　a　gleam；　and　a　face　which；　besides　beingbeautiful　from　regularity　of　feature　and　richness　of　plexion；　hadthe　impressiveness　belonging　to　a　marked　brow　and　deep　black　eyes。　Shewas　ladylike；　too；　after　the　manner　of　the　feminine　gentility　of　thosedays；　characterised　by　a　certain　state　and　dignity；　rather　than　by　thedelicate；　evanescent；　and　indescribable　grace；　which　is　now　recognisedas　its　indication。　And　never　had　Hester　Prynne　appeared　more　ladylike；in　the　antique　interpretation　of　the　term；　than　as　she　issued　from　theprison。　Those　who　had　before　known　her；　and　had　expected　to　behold　herdimmed　and　obscured　by　a　disastrous　cloud；　were　astonished；　and　evenstartled；　to　perceive　how　her　beauty　shone　out；　and　made　a　halo　of　themisfortune　and　ignominy　in　which　she　was　enveloped。　It　may　be　true；that；　to　a　sensitive　observer；　there　was　something　exquisitely　painfulin　it。　Her　attire；　which；　indeed；　she　had　wrought　for　the　occasion；　inprison；　and　had　modelled　much　after　her　own　fancy；　seemed　to　expressthe　attitude　of　her　spirit；　the　desperate　recklessness　of　her　mood；　byits　wild　and　picturesque　peculiarity。　But　the　point　which　drew　alleyes；　and；　as　it　were；　transfigured　the　wearer…　so　that　both　men　andwomen；　who　had　been　familiarly　acquainted　with　Hester　Prynne；　were　nowimpressed　as　if　they　beheld　her　for　the　first　time…　was　that　SCARLETLETTER；　so　fantastically　embroidered　and　illuminated　upon　her　bosom。It　had　the　effect　of　a　spell；　taking　her　out　of　the　ordinary　relationswith　humanity；　and　enclosing　her　in　a　sphere　by　herself。　　〃She　hath　good　skill　at　her　needle；　that's　certain；〃　remarked　one　ofher　female　spectators；　〃but　did　ever　a　woman；　before　this　brazenhussy；　contrive　such　a　way　of　showing　it！　Why；　gossips；　what　is　it　butto　laugh　in　the　faces　of　our　godly　magistrates；　and　make　a　pride　outof　what　they；　worthy　gentlemen；　meant　for　a　punishment？〃　　〃It　were　well；〃　muttered　the　most　iron…visaged　of　the　old　dames；　〃ifwe　stripped　Madam　Hester's　rich　gown　off　her　dainty　shoulders；　andas　for　the　red　letter；　which　she　hath　stitched　so　curiously；　I'llbestow　a　rag　of　mine　own　rheumatic　flannel；　to　make　a　fitter　one！〃　　〃Oh；　peace；　neighbours；　peace！〃　whispered　their　youngestpanion；　〃do　not　let　her　hear　you！　Not　a　stitch　in　thatembroidered　letter；　but　she　has　felt　it　in　her　heart。〃　　The　grim　beadle　now　made　a　gesture　with　his　staff。　　〃Make　way；　good　people；　make　way；　in　the　King's　name！〃　cried　he。〃Open　a　passage；　and；　I　promise　ye；　Mistress　Prynne　shall　be　set　whereman；　woman；　and　child；　may　have　a　fair　sight　of　her　brave　apparel；from　this　time　till　an　hour　past　meridian。　A　blessing　on　the　righteousColony　of　the　Massachusetts；　where　iniquity　is　dragged　out　into　thesunshine！　e　along；　Madam　Hester；　and　show　your　scarlet　letter　inthe　market…place！〃　　A　lane　was　forthwith　opened　through　the　crowd　of　spectators。Preceded　by　the　beadle；　and　attended　by