Алая буква
The Market–Place
But,undertheleadeninflictionwhichitwasherdoomtoendure,shefelt,atmoments,asifshemustneedsshriekoutwiththefullpowerofherlungs,andcastherselffromthescaffolddownupontheground,orelsegomadatonce.
Yettherewereintervalswhenthewholescene,inwhichshewasthemostconspicuousobject,seemedtovanishfromhereyes,or,atleast,glimmeredindistinctlybeforethem,likeamassofimperfectlyshapedandspectralimages.Hermind,andespeciallyhermemory,waspreternaturallyactive,andkeptbringingupotherscenesthanthisroughlyhewnstreetofalittletown,ontheedgeofthewesternwilderness:otherfacesthanwereloweringuponherfrombeneaththebrimsofthosesteeple-crownedhats.Reminiscences,themosttriflingandimmaterial,passagesofinfancyandschool-days,sports,childishquarrels,andthelittledomestictraitsofhermaidenyears,cameswarmingbackuponher,intermingledwithrecollectionsofwhateverwasgravestinhersubsequentlife;onepicturepreciselyasvividasanother;asifallwereofsimilarimportance,orallalikeaplay.Possibly,itwasaninstinctivedeviceofherspirittorelieveitselfbytheexhibitionofthesephantasmagoricforms,fromthecruelweightandhardnessofthereality.
Bethatasitmight,thescaffoldofthepillorywasapointofviewthatrevealedtoHesterPrynnetheentiretrackalongwhichshehadbeentreading,sinceherhappyinfancy.
