Алая буква

           Allpeople,inaword,wouldcomestumblingovertheirthresholds,andturninguptheiramazedandhorror-strickenvisagesaroundthescaffold.Whomwouldtheydiscernthere,withtheredeasternlightuponhisbrow?Whom,buttheReverendArthurDimmesdale,half-frozentodeath,overwhelmedwithshame,andstandingwhereHesterPrynnehadstood!

           Carriedawaybythegrotesquehorrorofthispicture,theminister,unawares,andtohisowninfinitealarm,burstintoagreatpealoflaughter.Itwasimmediatelyrespondedtobyalight,airy,childishlaugh,inwhich,withathrilloftheheart—butheknewnotwhetherofexquisitepain,orpleasureasacute—herecognisedthetonesoflittlePearl.

           "Pearl!LittlePearl!"criedhe,afteramoment’spause;then,suppressinghisvoice—"Hester!HesterPrynne!Areyouthere?"

           "Yes;itisHesterPrynne!"shereplied,inatoneofsurprise;andtheministerheardherfootstepsapproachingfromtheside-walk,alongwhichshehadbeenpassing."ItisI,andmylittlePearl."

           "Whencecomeyou,Hester?"askedtheminister."Whatsentyouhither?"

           "Ihavebeenwatchingatadeath-bed,"answeredHesterPrynne"atGovernorWinthrop’sdeath-bed,andhavetakenhismeasureforarobe,andamnowgoinghomewardtomydwelling."

           "Comeuphither,Hester,thouandLittlePearl,"saidtheReverendMr.Dimmesdale."Yehavebothbeenherebefore,butIwasnotwithyou.Comeuphitheronceagain,andwewillstandallthreetogether."