Алая буква
The Minister’s Vigil
Andtherestoodtheminister,withhishandoverhisheart;andHesterPrynne,withtheembroideredletterglimmeringonherbosom;andlittlePearl,herselfasymbol,andtheconnectinglinkbetweenthosetwo.Theystoodinthenoonofthatstrangeandsolemnsplendour,asifitwerethelightthatistorevealallsecrets,andthedaybreakthatshalluniteallwhobelongtooneanother.
TherewaswitchcraftinlittlePearl’seyes;andherface,assheglancedupwardattheminister,worethatnaughtysmilewhichmadeitsexpressionfrequentlysoelvish.ShewithdrewherhandfromMr.Dimmesdale’s,andpointedacrossthestreet.Butheclaspedbothhishandsoverhisbreast,andcasthiseyestowardsthezenith.
Nothingwasmorecommon,inthosedays,thantointerpretallmeteoricappearances,andothernaturalphenomenathatoccuredwithlessregularitythantheriseandsetofsunandmoon,assomanyrevelationsfromasupernaturalsource.Thus,ablazingspear,aswordofflame,abow,orasheafofarrowsseeninthemidnightsky,prefiguredIndianwarfare.Pestilencewasknowntohavebeenforebodedbyashowerofcrimsonlight.Wedoubtwhetheranymarkedevent,forgoodorevil,everbefellNewEngland,fromitssettlementdowntorevolutionarytimes,ofwhichtheinhabitantshadnotbeenpreviouslywarnedbysomespectacleofitsnature.Notseldom,ithadbeenseenbymultitudes.
