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The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter
Itseemedhardlythefaceofamanalive,withsuchadeath-likehue:itwashardlyamanwithlifeinhim,thattotteredonhispathsonervously,yettottered,anddidnotfall!
Oneofhisclericalbrethren—itwasthevenerableJohnWilson—observingthestateinwhichMr.Dimmesdalewasleftbytheretiringwaveofintellectandsensibility,steppedforwardhastilytoofferhissupport.Theministertremulously,butdecidedly,repelledtheoldman’sarm.Hestillwalkedonward,ifthatmovementcouldbesodescribed,whichratherresembledthewaveringeffortofaninfant,withitsmother’sarmsinview,outstretchedtotempthimforward.Andnow,almostimperceptibleaswerethelatterstepsofhisprogress,hehadcomeoppositethewell-rememberedandweather-darkenedscaffold,where,longsince,withallthatdrearylapseoftimebetween,HesterPrynnehadencounteredtheworld’signominiousstare.TherestoodHester,holdinglittlePearlbythehand!Andtherewasthescarletletteronherbreast!Theministerheremadeapause;althoughthemusicstillplayedthestatelyandrejoicingmarchtowhichtheprocessionmoved.Itsummonedhimonward—inwardtothefestival!—butherehemadeapause.
Bellingham,forthelastfewmoments,hadkeptananxiouseyeuponhim.Henowlefthisownplaceintheprocession,andadvancedtogiveassistancejudging,fromMr.Dimmesdale’saspectthathemustotherwiseinevitablyfall.
