Алая буква
Hester and Pearl
InthelittlechaosofPearl’scharactertheremightbeseenemergingandcouldhavebeenfromtheveryfirst—thesteadfastprinciplesofanunflinchingcourage—anuncontrollablewill—sturdypride,whichmightbedisciplinedintoself-respect—andabitterscornofmanythingswhich,whenexamined,mightbefoundtohavethetaintoffalsehoodinthem.Shepossessedaffections,too,thoughhithertoacridanddisagreeable,asaretherichestflavoursofunripefruit.Withallthesesterlingattributes,thoughtHester,theevilwhichsheinheritedfromhermothermustbegreatindeed,ifanoblewomandonotgrowoutofthiselfishchild.
Pearl’sinevitabletendencytohoverabouttheenigmaofthescarletletterseemedaninnatequalityofherbeing.Fromtheearliestepochofherconsciouslife,shehadentereduponthisasherappointedmission.HesterhadoftenfanciedthatProvidencehadadesignofjusticeandretribution,inendowingthechildwiththismarkedpropensity;butnever,untilnow,hadshebethoughtherselftoask,whether,linkedwiththatdesign,theremightnotlikewisebeapurposeofmercyandbeneficence.
