Алая буква
A Flood of Sunshine
Sheisastrangechild!Ihardlycomprehendher!Butthouwiltloveherdearly,asIdo,andwiltadvisemehowtodealwithher!"
"Dostthouthinkthechildwillbegladtoknowme?"askedtheminister,somewhatuneasily."Ihavelongshrunkfromchildren,becausetheyoftenshowadistrust—abackwardnesstobefamiliarwithme.IhaveevenbeenafraidoflittlePearl!"
"Ah,thatwassad!"answeredthemother."Butshewilllovetheedearly,andthouher.Sheisnotfaroff.Iwillcallher.Pearl!Pearl!"
"Iseethechild,"observedtheminister."Yondersheis,standinginastreakofsunshine,agoodwayoff,ontheothersideofthebrook.Sothouthinkestthechildwillloveme?"
Hestersmiled,andagaincalledtoPearl,whowasvisibleatsomedistance,astheministerhaddescribedher,likeabright-apparelledvisioninasunbeam,whichfelldownuponherthroughanarchofboughs.Therayquiveredtoandfro,makingherfiguredimordistinct—nowlikearealchild,nowlikeachild’sspirit—asthesplendourwentandcameagain.Sheheardhermother’svoice,andapproachedslowlythroughtheforest.
Pearlhadnotfoundthehourpasswearisomelywhilehermothersattalkingwiththeclergyman.Thegreatblackforest—sternasitshoweditselftothosewhobroughttheguiltandtroublesoftheworldintoitsbosom—becametheplaymateofthelonelyinfant,aswellasitknewhow.Sombreasitwas,itputonthekindestofitsmoodstowelcomeher.
