Алая буква
The New England Holiday
Whentheyreachedthemarket-place,shebecamestillmorerestless,onperceivingthestirandbustlethatenlivenedthespot;foritwasusuallymorelikethebroadandlonesomegreenbeforeavillagemeeting-house,thanthecentreofatown’sbusiness
"Why,whatisthis,mother?"criedshe."Whereforehaveallthepeoplelefttheirworkto-day?Isitaplay-dayforthewholeworld?See,thereistheblacksmith!Hehaswashedhissootyface,andputonhisSabbath-dayclothes,andlooksasifhewouldgladlybemerry,ifanykindbodywouldonlyteachhimhow!AndthereisMasterBrackett,theoldjailer,noddingandsmilingatme.Whydoeshedoso,mother?"
"Herememberstheealittlebabe,mychild,"answeredHester.
"Heshouldnotnodandsmileatme,forallthat—theblack,grim,ugly-eyedoldman!"saidPearl.
"Hemaynodatthee,ifhewill;forthouartcladingray,andwearestthescarletletter.Butsee,mother,howmanyfacesofstrangepeople,andIndiansamongthem,andsailors!Whathavetheyallcometodo,hereinthemarket-place?"
"Theywaittoseetheprocessionpass,"saidHester."FortheGovernorandthemagistratesaretogoby,andtheministers,andallthegreatpeopleandgoodpeople,withthemusicandthesoldiersmarchingbeforethem."
"Andwilltheministerbethere?"askedPearl."Andwillheholdoutbothhishandstome,aswhenthouled’stmetohimfromthebrook-side?"
"Hewillbethere,child,"answeredhermother,"buthewillnotgreettheeto-day,normustthougreethim."
