Алая буква
The Minister in a Maze
Thegoodoldmanaddressedhimwiththepaternalaffectionandpatriarchalprivilegewhichhisvenerableage,hisuprightandholycharacter,andhisstationinthechurch,entitledhimtouseand,conjoinedwiththis,thedeep,almostworshippingrespect,whichtheminister’sprofessionalandprivateclaimsalikedemanded.Neverwasthereamorebeautifulexampleofhowthemajestyofageandwisdommaycomportwiththeobeisanceandrespectenjoineduponit,asfromalowersocialrank,andinferiororderofendowment,towardsahigher.Now,duringaconversationofsometwoorthreemomentsbetweentheReverendMr.Dimmesdaleandthisexcellentandhoary-beardeddeacon,itwasonlybythemostcarefulself-controlthattheformercouldrefrainfromutteringcertainblasphemoussuggestionsthatroseintohismind,respectingthecommunion-supper.Heabsolutelytrembledandturnedpaleasashes,lesthistongueshouldwagitselfinutteranceofthesehorriblematters,andpleadhisownconsentforsodoing,withouthishavingfairlygivenit.And,evenwiththisterrorinhisheart,hecouldhardlyavoidlaughing,toimaginehowthesanctifiedoldpatriarchaldeaconwouldhavebeenpetrifiedbyhisminister’simpiety.
Again,anotherincidentofthesamenature.Hurryingalongthestreet,theReverendMr.
