Алая буква
The Pastor and His Parishioner
"Buthowtoavoidit?Whatchoiceremainstome?ShallIliedownagainonthesewitheredleaves,whereIcastmyselfwhenthoudidsttellmewhathewas?MustIsinkdownthere,anddieatonce?"
"Alas!whataruinhasbefallenthee!"saidHester,withthetearsgushingintohereyes."Wiltthoudieforveryweakness?Thereisnoothercause!"
"ThejudgmentofGodisonme,"answeredtheconscience-strickenpriest."Itistoomightyformetostrugglewith!"
"Heavenwouldshowmercy,"rejoinedHester,"hadstthoubutthestrengthtotakeadvantageofit."
"Bethoustrongforme!"answeredhe."Advisemewhattodo."
"Istheworld,then,sonarrow?"exclaimedHesterPrynne,fixingherdeepeyesontheminister’s,andinstinctivelyexercisingamagneticpoweroveraspiritsoshatteredandsubduedthatitcouldhardlyholditselferect."Doththeuniverseliewithinthecompassofyondertown,whichonlyalittletimeagowasbutaleaf-strewndesert,aslonelyasthisaroundus?Whitherleadsyonderforest-track?Backwardtothesettlement,thousayest!Yes;but,onward,too!Deeperitgoes,anddeeperintothewilderness,lessplainlytobeseenateverystep;untilsomefewmileshencetheyellowleaveswillshownovestigeofthewhiteman’stread.
