Алая буква
Hester and Pearl
Suchsceneshadonceappearednototherwisethanhappy,butnow,asviewedthroughthedismalmediumofhersubsequentlife,theyclassedthemselvesamongherugliestremembrances.Shemarvelledhowsuchscenescouldhavebeen!Shemarvelledhowshecouldeverhavebeenwroughtupontomarryhim!Shedeemedinhercrimemosttoberepentedof,thatshehadeverenduredandreciprocatedthelukewarmgraspofhishand,andhadsufferedthesmileofherlipsandeyestomingleandmeltintohisown.AnditseemedafouleroffencecommittedbyRogerChillingworththananywhichhadsincebeendonehim,that,inthetimewhenherheartknewnobetter,hehadpersuadedhertofancyherselfhappybyhisside.
"Yes,Ihatehim!"repeatedHestermorebitterlythanbefore."Hebetrayedme!HehasdonemeworsewrongthanIdidhim!"
Letmentrembletowinthehandofwoman,unlesstheywinalongwithittheutmostpassionofherheart!Elseitmaybetheirmiserablefortune,asitwasRogerChillingworth’s,whensomemightiertouchthantheirownmayhaveawakenedallhersensibilities,tobereproachedevenforthecalmcontent,themarbleimageofhappiness,whichtheywillhaveimposeduponherasthewarmreality.ButHesteroughtlongagotohavedonewiththisinjustice.
