Алая буква
The Procession
Hester’sstrong,calmsteadfastly-enduringspiritalmostsank,atlast,onbeholdingthisdarkandgrimcountenanceofaninevitabledoom,whichatthemomentwhenapassageseemedtoopenfortheministerandherselfoutoftheirlabyrinthofmisery—showeditselfwithanunrelentingsmile,rightinthemidstoftheirpath.
Withhermindharassedbytheterribleperplexityinwhichtheshipmaster’sintelligenceinvolvedher,shewasalsosubjectedtoanothertrial.Thereweremanypeoplepresentfromthecountryroundabout,whohadoftenheardofthescarletletter,andtowhomithadbeenmadeterrificbyahundredfalseorexaggeratedrumours,butwhohadneverbehelditwiththeirownbodilyeyes.These,afterexhaustingothermodesofamusement,nowthrongedaboutHesterPrynnewithrudeandboorishintrusiveness.Unscrupulousasitwas,however,itcouldnotbringthemnearerthanacircuitofseveralyards.Atthatdistancetheyaccordinglystood,fixedtherebythecentrifugalforceoftherepugnancewhichthemysticsymbolinspired.Thewholegangofsailors,likewise,observingthepressofspectators,andlearningthepurportofthescarletletter,cameandthrusttheirsunburntanddesperado-lookingfacesintothering.EventheIndianswereaffectedbyasortofcoldshadowofthewhiteman’scuriosityand,glidingthroughthecrowd,fastenedtheirsnake-likeblackeyesonHester’sbosom,conceiving,perhaps,thatthewearerofthisbrilliantlyembroideredbadgemustneedsbeapersonageofhighdignityamongherpeople
