Алая буква
The Pastor and His Parishioner
Therethouartfree!Sobriefajourneywouldbringtheefromaworldwherethouhastbeenmostwretched,toonewherethoumayeststillbehappy!IstherenotshadeenoughinallthisboundlessforesttohidethyheartfromthegazeofRogerChillingworth?"
"Yes,Hester;butonlyunderthefallenleaves!"repliedtheminister,withasadsmile.
"Thenthereisthebroadpathwayofthesea!"continuedHester."Itbroughttheehither.Ifthousochoose,itwillbeartheebackagain.Inournativeland,whetherinsomeremoteruralvillage,orinvastLondon—or,surely,inGermany,inFrance,inpleasantItaly—thouwouldstbebeyondhispowerandknowledge!Andwhathastthoutodowithalltheseironmen,andtheiropinions?Theyhavekeptthybetterpartinbondagetoolongalready!"
"Itcannotbe!"answeredtheminister,listeningasifhewerecalledupontorealiseadream."Iampowerlesstogo.WretchedandsinfulasIam,IhavehadnootherthoughtthantodragonmyearthlyexistenceinthespherewhereProvidencehathplacedme.Lostasmyownsoulis,IwouldstilldowhatImayforotherhumansouls!Idarenotquitmypost,thoughanunfaithfulsentinel,whosesurerewardisdeathanddishonour,whenhisdrearywatchshallcometoanend!"
"Thouartcrushedunderthissevenyears’weightofmisery,"repliedHester,ferventlyresolvedtobuoyhimupwithherownenergy.
