Алая буква
The Minister’s Vigil
Withoutanyeffortofhiswill,orpowertorestrainhimself,heshriekedaloud:anoutcrythatwentpealingthroughthenight,andwasbeatenbackfromonehousetoanother,andreverberatedfromthehillsinthebackground;asifacompanyofdevils,detectingsomuchmiseryandterrorinit,hadmadeaplaythingofthesound,andwerebandyingittoandfro.
"Itisdone!"mutteredtheminister,coveringhisfacewithhishands."Thewholetownwillawakeandhurryforth,andfindmehere!"
Butitwasnotso.Theshriekhadperhapssoundedwithafargreaterpower,tohisownstartledears,thanitactuallypossessed.Thetowndidnotawake;or,ifitdid,thedrowsyslumberersmistookthecryeitherforsomethingfrightfulinadream,orforthenoiseofwitches,whosevoices,atthatperiod,wereoftenheardtopassoverthesettlementsorlonelycottages,astheyrodewithSatanthroughtheair.Theclergyman,therefore,hearingnosymptomsofdisturbance,uncoveredhiseyesandlookedabouthim.Atoneofthechamber-windowsofGovernorBellingham’smansion,whichstoodatsomedistance,onthelineofanotherstreet,hebeheldtheappearanceoftheoldmagistratehimselfwithalampinhishandawhitenight-caponhishead,andalongwhitegownenvelopinghisfigure.Helookedlikeaghostevokedunseasonablyfromthegrave.Thecryhadevidentlystartledhim.
