Алая буква
The Recognition
But,outofthewholehumanfamily,itwouldnothavebeeneasytoselectthesamenumberofwiseandvirtuouspersons,whoshouldhelesscapableofsittinginjudgmentonanerringwoman’sheart,anddisentanglingitsmeshofgoodandevil,thanthesagesofrigidaspecttowardswhomHesterPrynnenowturnedherface.Sheseemedconscious,indeed,thatwhateversympathyshemightexpectlayinthelargerandwarmerheartofthemultitude;for,assheliftedhereyestowardsthebalcony,theunhappywomangrewpale,andtrembled.
ThevoicewhichhadcalledherattentionwasthatofthereverendandfamousJohnWilson,theeldestclergymanofBoston,agreatscholar,likemostofhiscontemporariesintheprofession,andwithalamanofkindandgenialspirit.Thislastattribute,however,hadbeenlesscarefullydevelopedthanhisintellectualgifts,andwas,intruth,ratheramatterofshamethanself-congratulationwithhim.Therehestood,withaborderofgrizzledlocksbeneathhisskull-cap,whilehisgreyeyes,accustomedtotheshadedlightofhisstudy,werewinking,likethoseofHester’sinfant,intheunadulteratedsunshine.Helookedlikethedarklyengravedportraitswhichweseeprefixedtooldvolumesofsermons,andhadnomorerightthanoneofthoseportraitswouldhavetostepforth,ashenowdid,andmeddlewithaquestionofhumanguilt,passion,andanguish.
"HesterPrynne,"saidtheclergyman,"Ihavestrivenwithmyyoungbrotherhere,underwhosepreachingoftheWordyouhavebeenprivilegedtosit"—hereMr.
