Алая буква
The Procession
Shemadethesombrecrowdcheerfulbyhererraticandglisteningray,evenasabirdofbrightplumageilluminatesawholetreeofduskyfoliagebydartingtoandfro,halfseenandhalfconcealedamidthetwilightoftheclusteringleaves.Shehadanundulating,butoftentimesasharpandirregularmovement.Itindicatedtherestlessvivacityofherspirit,whichto-daywasdoublyindefatigableinitstip-toedance,becauseitwasplayeduponandvibratedwithhermother’sdisquietude.WheneverPearlsawanythingtoexcitehereveractiveandwanderingcuriosity,sheflewthitherward,and,aswemightsay,seizeduponthatmanorthingasherownproperty,sofarasshedesiredit,butwithoutyieldingtheminutestdegreeofcontroloverhermotionsinrequital.ThePuritanslookedon,and,iftheysmiled,werenonethelessinclinedtopronouncethechildademonoffspring,fromtheindescribablecharmofbeautyandeccentricitythatshonethroughherlittlefigure,andsparkledwithitsactivity.SheranandlookedthewildIndianintheface,andhegrewconsciousofanaturewilderthanhisown.Thence,withnativeaudacity,butstillwithareserveascharacteristic,sheflewintothemidstofagroupofmariners,theswarthy-cheekedwildmenoftheocean,astheIndianswereoftheland;andtheygazedwonderinglyandadmiringlyatPearl,asifaflakeofthesea-foamhadtakentheshapeofalittlemaid,andweregiftedwithasoulofthesea-fire,thatflashesbeneaththeprowinthenight-time.
