Алая буква
Another View of Hester
Itwasperceived,too,thatwhileHesterneverputforwardeventhehumblesttitletoshareintheworld’sprivileges—furtherthantobreathethecommonairandearndailybreadforlittlePearlandherselfbythefaithfullabourofherhands—shewasquicktoacknowledgehersisterhoodwiththeraceofmanwheneverbenefitsweretobeconferred.Nonesoreadyasshetogiveofherlittlesubstancetoeverydemandofpoverty,eventhoughthebitter-heartedpauperthrewbackagibeinrequitalofthefoodbroughtregularlytohisdoor,orthegarmentswroughtforhimbythefingersthatcouldhaveembroideredamonarch’srobe.Nonesoself-devotedasHesterwhenpestilencestalkedthroughthetown.Inallseasonsofcalamity,indeed,whethergeneralorofindividuals,theoutcastofsocietyatoncefoundherplace.Shecame,notasaguest,butasarightfulinmate,intothehouseholdthatwasdarkenedbytrouble,asifitsgloomytwilightwereamediuminwhichshewasentitledtoholdintercoursewithherfellow-creatureThereglimmeredtheembroideredletter,withcomfortinitsunearthlyray.Elsewherethetokenofsin,itwasthetaperofthesickchamber.Ithadeventhrownitsgleam,inthesufferer’sbardextremity,acrossthevergeoftime.Ithadshownhimwheretosethisfoot,whilethelightofearthwasfastbecomingdim,anderethelightoffuturitycouldreachhim.InsuchemergenciesHester’snatureshoweditselfwarmandrich—awell-springofhumantenderness,unfailingtoeveryrealdemand,andinexhaustiblebythelargest.
