Алая буква
A Flood of Sunshine
"Thepastisgone!Whereforeshouldwelingeruponitnow?See!WiththissymbolIundoitall,andmakeitasifithadneverbeen!"
Sospeaking,sheundidtheclaspthatfastenedthescarletletter,and,takingitfromherbosom,threwittoadistanceamongthewitheredleaves.Themystictokenalightedonthehithervergeofthestream.Withahand’s-breadthfurtherflight,itwouldhavefallenintothewater,andhavegive,thelittlebrookanotherwoetocarryonward,besidestheunintelligibletalewhichitstillkeptmurmuringabout.Buttherelaytheembroideredletter,glitteringlikealostjewel,whichsomeill-fatedwanderermightpickup,andthenceforthbehauntedbystrangephantomsofguilt,sinkingsoftheheart,andunaccountablemisfortune.
Thestigmagone,Hesterheavedalong,deepsigh,inwhichtheburdenofshameandanguishdepartedfromherspirit.Oexquisiterelief!Shehadnotknowntheweightuntilshefeltthefreedom!Byanotherimpulse,shetookofftheformalcapthatconfinedherhair,anddownitfelluponhershoulders,darkandrich,withatonceashadowandalightinitsabundance,andimpartingthecharmofsoftnesstoherfeatures.Thereplayedaroundhermouth,andbeamedoutofhereyes,aradiantandtendersmile,thatseemedgushingfromtheveryheartofwomanhood.Acrimsonflushwasglowingonhercheek,thathadbeenlongsopale.
