Алая буква
The Leech and His Patient
Wouldyou,therefore,thatyourphysicianhealthebodilyevil?Howmaythisbeunlessyoufirstlayopentohimthewoundortroubleinyoursoul?"
"No,nottothee!nottoanearthlyphysician!"criedMr.Dimmesdale,passionately,andturninghiseyes,fullandbright,andwithakindoffierceness,onoldRogerChillingworth."Nottothee!But,ifitbethesoul’sdisease,thendoIcommitmyselftotheonePhysicianofthesoul!He,ifitstandwithHisgoodpleasure,cancure,orhecankill.LetHimdowithmeas,inHisjusticeandwisdom,Heshallseegood.Butwhoartthou,thatmeddlestinthismatter?thatdaresthrusthimselfbetweenthesuffererandhisGod?"
Withafranticgestureherushedoutoftheroom.
"Itisaswelltohavemadethisstep,"saidRogerChillingworthtohimself,lookingaftertheminister,withagravesmile."Thereisnothinglost.Weshallbefriendsagainanon.Butsee,now,howpassiontakesholduponthisman,andhurriethhimoutofhimself!Aswithonepassionsowithanother.Hehathdoneawildthingerenow,thispiousMasterDimmesdale,inthehotpassionofhisheart."
Itprovednotdifficulttore-establishtheintimacyofthetwocompanions,onthesamefootingandinthesamedegreeasheretofore.Theyoungclergyman,afterafewhoursofprivacy,wassensiblethatthedisorderofhisnerveshadhurriedhimintoanunseemlyoutbreakoftemper,whichtherehadbeennothinginthephysician’swordstoexcuseorpalliate.
