Алая буква
Hester and Pearl
"MylittlePearl,"saidHester,afteramoment’ssilence,"thegreenletter,andonthychildishbosom,hasnopurport.Butdostthouknow,mychild,whatthislettermeanswhichthymotherisdoomedtowear?"
"Yes,mother,"saidthechild."ItisthegreatletterA.Thouhasttaughtmeinthehorn-book."
Hesterlookedsteadilyintoherlittleface;butthoughtherewasthatsingularexpressionwhichshehadsooftenremarkedinherblackeyes,shecouldnotsatisfyherselfwhetherPearlreallyattachedanymeaningtothesymbol.Shefeltamorbiddesiretoascertainthepoint.
"Dostthouknow,child,whereforethymotherwearsthisletter?"
"TrulydoI!"answeredPearl,lookingbrightlyintohermother’sface."Itisforthesamereasonthattheministerkeepshishandoverhisheart!"
"Andwhatreasonisthat?"askedHester,halfsmilingattheabsurdincongruityofthechild’sobservation;butonsecondthoughtsturningpale.
"Whathasthelettertodowithanyheartsavemine?"
"Nay,mother,IhavetoldallIknow,"saidPearl,moreseriouslythanshewaswonttospeak."Askyonderoldmanwhomthouhastbeentalkingwith—itmaybehecantell.Butingoodearnestnow,motherdear,whatdoesthisscarletlettermean?—andwhydostthouwearitonthybosom?—andwhydoestheministerkeephishandoverhisheart?"
Shetookhermother’shandinbothherown,andgazedintohereyeswithanearnestnessthatwasseldomseeninherwildandcapriciouscharacter.
