Алая буква
The Recognition
"Hearkenuntome,HesterPrynne!"saidthevoice.
IthasalreadybeennoticedthatdirectlyovertheplatformonwhichHesterPrynnestoodwasakindofbalcony,oropengallery,appendedtothemeeting-house.Itwastheplacewhenceproclamationswerewonttobemade,amidstanassemblageofthemagistracy,withalltheceremonialthatattendedsuchpublicobservancesinthosedays.Here,towitnessthescenewhichwearedescribing,satGovernorBellinghamhimselfwithfoursergeantsabouthischair,bearinghalberds,asaguardofhonour.Heworeadarkfeatherinhishat,aborderofembroideryonhiscloak,andablackvelvettunicbeneath—agentlemanadvancedinyears,withahardexperiencewritteninhiswrinkles.Hewasnotill-fittedtobetheheadandrepresentativeofacommunitywhichoweditsoriginandprogress,anditspresentstateofdevelopment,nottotheimpulsesofyouth,buttothesternandtemperedenergiesofmanhoodandthesombresagacityofage;accomplishingsomuch,preciselybecauseitimaginedandhopedsolittle.Theothereminentcharactersbywhomthechiefrulerwassurroundedweredistinguishedbyadignityofmien,belongingtoaperiodwhentheformsofauthoritywerefelttopossessthesacrednessofDivineinstitutions.Theywere,doubtless,goodmen,justandsage.
