Алая буква
The Leech and His Patient
Thechildprobablyoverheardtheirvoices,for,lookinguptothewindowwithabright,butnaughtysmileofmirthandintelligence,shethrewoneofthepricklyburrsattheRev.Mr.Dimmesdale.Thesensitiveclergymanshrank,withnervousdread,fromthelightmissile.Detectinghisemotion,Pearlclappedherlittlehandsinthemostextravagantecstacy.HesterPrynne,likewise,hadinvoluntarilylookedup,andallthesefourpersons,oldandyoung,regardedoneanotherinsilence,tillthechildlaughedaloud,andshouted—"Comeaway,mother!Comeaway,oryonderoldblackmanwillcatchyou!Hehathgotholdoftheministeralready.Comeaway,motherorhewillcatchyou!ButhecannotcatchlittlePearl!"
Soshedrewhermotheraway,skipping,dancing,andfriskingfantasticallyamongthehillocksofthedeadpeople,likeacreaturethathadnothingincommonwithabygoneandburiedgeneration,norownedherselfakintoit.Itwasasifshehadbeenmadeafreshoutofnewelements,andmustperforcebepermittedtoliveherownlife,andbealawuntoherselfwithouthereccentricitiesbeingreckonedtoherforacrime.
"Theregoesawoman,"resumedRogerChillingworth,afterapause,"who,beherdemeritswhattheymay,hathnoneofthatmysteryofhiddensinfulnesswhichyoudeemsogrievoustobeborne.IsHesterPrynnethelessmiserable,thinkyou,forthatscarletletteronherbreast?"
"Idoverilybelieveit,"answeredtheclergyman."Nevertheless,Icannotanswerforher.
