Алая буква
Another View of Hester
Itwasnonethelessafact,however,thatintheeyesoftheverymenwhospokethus,thescarletletterhadtheeffectofthecrossonanun’sbosom.Itimpartedtothewearerakindofsacredness,whichenabledhertowalksecurelyamidallperil.Hadshefallenamongthieves,itwouldhavekepthersafe.Itwasreported,andbelievedbymany,thatanIndianhaddrawnhisarrowagainstthebadge,andthatthemissilestruckit,andfellharmlesstotheground.
Theeffectofthesymbol—orrather,ofthepositioninrespecttosocietythatwasindicatedbyit—onthemindofHesterPrynneherselfwaspowerfulandpeculiar.Allthelightandgracefulfoliageofhercharacterhadbeenwitheredupbythisred-hotbrand,andhadlongagofallenaway,leavingabareandharshoutline,whichmighthavebeenrepulsivehadshepossessedfriendsorcompanionstoberepelledbyit.Eventheattractivenessofherpersonhadundergoneasimilarchange.Itmightbepartlyowingtothestudiedausterityofherdress,andpartlytothelackofdemonstrationinhermanners.Itwasasadtransformation,too,thatherrichandluxurianthairhadeitherbeencutoff,orwassocompletelyhiddenbyacap,thatnotashininglockofiteveroncegushedintothesunshine.
