Алая буква
The Leech and His Patient
Letusdigalittlefurtherinthedirectionofthisvein!"
Thenafterlongsearchintotheminister’sdiminterior,andturningovermanypreciousmaterials,intheshapeofhighaspirationsforthewelfareofhisrace,warmloveofsouls,puresentiments,naturalpiety,strengthenedbythoughtandstudy,andilluminatedbyrevelation—allofwhichinvaluablegoldwasperhapsnobetterthanrubbishtotheseeker—hewouldturnback,discouraged,andbeginhisquesttowardsanotherpoint.Hegropedalongasstealthily,withascautiousatread,andaswaryanoutlook,asathiefenteringachamberwhereamanliesonlyhalfasleep—or,itmaybe,broadawake—withpurposetostealtheverytreasurewhichthismanguardsastheappleofhiseye.Inspiteofhispremeditatedcarefulness,thefloorwouldnowandthencreak;hisgarmentswouldrustle;theshadowofhispresence,inaforbiddenproximity,wouldbethrownacrosshisvictim.Inotherwords,Mr.Dimmesdale,whosesensibilityofnerveoftenproducedtheeffectofspiritualintuition,wouldbecomevaguelyawarethatsomethinginimicaltohispeacehadthrustitselfintorelationwithhim.ButOldRogerChillingworth,too,hadperceptionsthatwerealmostintuitive;andwhentheministerthrewhisstartledeyestowardshim,therethephysiciansat;hiskind,watchful,sympathising,butneverintrusivefriend.
YetMr.Dimmesdalewouldperhapshaveseenthisindividual’scharactermoreperfectly,ifacertainmorbidness,towhichsickheartsareliable,hadnotrenderedhimsuspiciousofallmankind.
