Алая буква
Another View of Hester
Shehadwitnessedtheintensemiserybeneathwhichtheministerstruggled,or,tospeakmoreaccurately,hadceasedtostruggle.Shesawthathestoodonthevergeoflunacy,ifhehadnotalreadysteppedacrossit.Itwasimpossibletodoubtthat,whateverpainfulefficacytheremightbeinthesecretstingofremorse,adeadliervenomhadbeeninfusedintoitbythehandthatprofferedrelief.Asecretenemyhadbeencontinuallybyhisside,underthesemblanceofafriendandhelper,andhadavailedhimselfoftheopportunitiesthusaffordedfortamperingwiththedelicatespringsofMr.Dimmesdale’snature.Hestercouldnotbutaskherselfwhethertherehadnotoriginallybeenadefectoftruth,courage,andloyaltyonherownpart,inallowingtheministertobethrownintopositionwheresomuchevilwastobeforebodedandnothingauspicioustobehoped.HeronlyjustificationlayinthefactthatshehadbeenabletodiscernnomethodofrescuinghimfromablackerruinthanhadoverwhelmedherselfexceptbyacquiescinginRogerChillingworth’sschemeofdisguise.Underthatimpulseshehadmadeherchoice,andhadchosen,asitnowappeared,themorewretchedalternativeofthetwo.Shedeterminedtoredeemhererrorsofarasitmightyetbepossible.Strengthenedbyyearsofhardandsolemntrial,shefeltherselfnolongersoinadequatetocopewithRogerChillingworthasonthatnight,abasedbysinandhalf-maddenedbytheignominythatwasstillnew,whentheyhadtalkedtogetherintheprison-chamber
