Алая буква
Another View of Hester
Herbreast,withitsbadgeofshame,wasbutthesofterpillowfortheheadthatneededone.Shewasself-ordainedaSisterofMercy,or,wemayrathersay,theworld’sheavyhandhadsoordainedher,whenneithertheworldnorshelookedforwardtothisresult.Theletterwasthesymbolofhercalling.Suchhelpfulnesswasfoundinher—somuchpowertodo,andpowertosympathise—thatmanypeoplerefusedtointerpretthescarletAbyitsoriginalsignification.TheysaidthatitmeantAbel,sostrongwasHesterPrynne,withawoman’sstrength.
Itwasonlythedarkenedhousethatcouldcontainher.Whensunshinecameagain,shewasnotthere.Hershadowhadfadedacrossthethreshold.Thehelpfulinmatehaddeparted,withoutonebackwardglancetogatherupthemeedofgratitude,ifanywereintheheartsofthosewhomshehadservedsozealously.Meetingtheminthestreet,sheneverraisedherheadtoreceivetheirgreeting.Iftheywereresolutetoaccosther,shelaidherfingeronthescarletletter,andpassedon.Thismightbepride,butwassolikehumility,thatitproducedallthesofteninginfluenceofthelatterqualityonthepublicmind.Thepublicisdespoticinitstemper;itiscapableofdenyingcommonjusticewhentoostrenuouslydemandedasaright;butquiteasfrequentlyitawardsmorethanjustice,whentheappealismade,asdespotslovetohaveitmade,entirelytoitsgenerosity.
