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The New England Holiday
Itwouldhavebeenimpossibletoguessthatthisbrightandsunnyapparitionoweditsexistencetotheshapeofgloomygray;orthatafancy,atoncesogorgeousandsodelicateasmusthavebeenrequisitetocontrivethechild’sapparel,wasthesamethathadachievedataskperhapsmoredifficult,inimpartingsodistinctapeculiaritytoHester’ssimplerobe.Thedress,soproperwasittolittlePearl,seemedaneffluence,orinevitabledevelopmentandoutwardmanifestationofhercharacter,nomoretobeseparatedfromherthanthemany-huedbrilliancyfromabutterfly’swing,orthepaintedgloryfromtheleafofabrightflower.Aswiththese,sowiththechild;hergarbwasallofoneideawithhernature.Onthiseventfulday,moreover,therewasacertainsingularinquietudeandexcitementinhermood,resemblingnothingsomuchastheshimmerofadiamond,thatsparklesandflasheswiththevariedthrobbingsofthebreastonwhichitisdisplayed.Childrenhavealwaysasympathyintheagitationsofthoseconnectedwiththem:always,especially,asenseofanytroubleorimpendingrevolution,ofwhateverkind,indomesticcircumstances;andthereforePearl,whowasthegemonhermother’sunquietbosom,betrayed,bytheverydanceofherspirits,theemotionswhichnonecoulddetectinthemarblepassivenessofHester’sbrow.
Thiseffervescencemadeherflitwithabird-likemovement,ratherthanwalkbyhermother’sside.
Shebrokecontinuallyintoshoutsofawild,inarticulate,andsometimespiercingmusic.
