Алая буква
Hester and the Physician
Itwasdebatedwhetherorno,withsafetytothecommonweal,yonderscarletlettermightbetakenoffyourbosom.Onmylife,Hester,Imademyintreatytotheworshipfulmagistratethatitmightbedoneforthwith."
"Itliesnotinthepleasureofthemagistratestotakeoffthebadge,"calmlyrepliedHester."WereIworthytobequitofit,itwouldfallawayofitsownnature,orbetransformedintosomethingthatshouldspeakadifferentpurport."
"Nay,then,wearit,ifitsuityoubetter,"rejoinedhe,"Awomanmustneedsfollowherownfancytouchingtheadornmentofherperson.Theletterisgailyembroidered,andshowsrightbravelyonyourbosom!"
AllthiswhileHesterhadbeenlookingsteadilyattheoldman,andwasshocked,aswellaswonder-smitten,todiscernwhatachangehadbeenwroughtuponhimwithinthepastsevenyears.Itwasnotsomuchthathehadgrownolder;forthoughthetracesofadvancinglifewerevisibleheborehisagewell,andseemedtoretainawiryvigourandalertness.Buttheformeraspectofanintellectualandstudiousman,calmandquiet,whichwaswhatshebestrememberedinhim,hadaltogethervanished,andbeensucceededbyaeager,searching,almostfierce,yetcarefullyguardedlook.Itseemedtobehiswishandpurposetomaskthisexpressionwithasmile,butthelatterplayedhimfalse,andflickeredoverhisvisagesoderisivelythatthespectatorcouldseehisblacknessallthebetterforit.
