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The Minister’s Vigil
Atanotherwindowofthesamehouse,moreoverappearedoldMistressHibbins,theGovernor’ssister,alsowithalamp,whicheventhusfaroffrevealedtheexpressionofhersouranddiscontentedface.Shethrustforthherheadfromthelattice,andlookedanxiouslyupwardBeyondtheshadowofadoubt,thisvenerablewitch-ladyhadheardMr.Dimmesdale’soutcry,andinterpretedit,withitsmultitudinousechoesandreverberations,astheclamourofthefiendsandnight-hags,withwhomshewaswellknowntomakeexcursionsintheforest.
DetectingthegleamofGovernorBellingham’slamp,theoldladyquicklyextinguishedherown,andvanished.Possibly,shewentupamongtheclouds.Theministersawnothingfurtherofhermotions.Themagistrate,afterawaryobservationofthedarkness—intowhich,nevertheless,hecouldseebutlittlefurtherthanhemightintoamill-stone—retiredfromthewindow.
Theministergrewcomparativelycalm.Hiseyes,however,weresoongreetedbyalittleglimmeringlight,which,atfirstalongwayoffwasapproachingupthestreet.Itthrewagleamofrecognition,onhereapost,andthereagardenfence,andherealatticedwindow-pane,andthereapump,withitsfulltroughofwater,andhereagainanarcheddoorofoak,withanironknocker,andaroughlogforthedoor-step.TheReverendMr.
