Алая буква
The Minister in a Maze
Dimmesdaleencounteredtheeldestfemalememberofhischurch,amostpiousandexemplaryolddame,poor,widowed,lonely,andwithaheartasfullofreminiscencesaboutherdeadhusbandandchildren,andherdeadfriendsoflongago,asaburial-groundisfullofstoriedgravestones.Yetallthis,whichwouldelsehavebeensuchheavysorrow,wasmadealmostasolemnjoytoherdevoutoldsoul,byreligiousconsolationsandthetruthsofScripture,wherewithshehadfedherselfcontinuallyformorethanthirtyyears.AndsinceMr.Dimmesdalehadtakenherincharge,thegoodgrandam’schiefearthlycomfort—which,unlessithadbeenlikewiseaheavenlycomfort,couldhavebeennoneatall—wastomeetherpastor,whethercasually,orofsetpurpose,andberefreshedwithawordofwarm,fragrant,heaven-breathingGospeltruth,fromhisbelovedlips,intoherdulled,butrapturouslyattentiveear.But,onthisoccasion,uptothemomentofputtinghislipstotheoldwoman’sear,Mr.Dimmesdale,asthegreatenemyofsoulswouldhaveit,couldrecallnotextofScripture,noraughtelse,exceptabrief,pithy,and,asitthenappearedtohim,unanswerableargumentagainsttheimmortalityofthehumansoul.Theinstilmentthereofintohermindwouldprobablyhavecausedthisagedsistertodropdowndead,atonce,asbytheeffectofanintenselypoisonousinfusion.Whathereallydidwhisper,theministercouldneverafterwardsrecollect.
