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The Revelation of the Scarlet Letter
Buttherewassomethinginthelatter’sexpressionthatwarnedbackthemagistrate,althoughamannotreadilyobeyingthevagueintimationsthatpassfromonespirittoanother.Thecrowd,meanwhile,lookedonwithaweandwonder.Thisearthlyfaintness,was,intheirview,onlyanotherphaseoftheminister’scelestialstrength;norwouldithaveseemedamiracletoohightobewroughtforonesoholy,hadheascendedbeforetheireyes,waxingdimmerandbrighter,andfadingatlastintothelightofheaven!
Heturnedtowardsthescaffold,andstretchedforthhisarms.
"Hester,"saidhe,"comehither!Come,mylittlePearl!"
Itwasaghastlylookwithwhichheregardedthem;buttherewassomethingatoncetenderandstrangelytriumphantinit.Thechild,withthebird-likemotion,whichwasoneofhercharacteristics,flewtohim,andclaspedherarmsabouthisknees.HesterPrynne—slowly,asifimpelledbyinevitablefate,andagainstherstrongestwill—likewisedrewnear,butpausedbeforeshereachedhim.AtthisinstantoldRogerChillingworththrusthimselfthroughthecrowd—or,perhaps,sodark,disturbed,andevilwashislook,heroseupoutofsomenetherregion—tosnatchbackhisvictimfromwhathesoughttodo!Bethatasitmight,theoldmanrushedforward,andcaughttheministerbythearm.
"Madman,hold!whatisyourpurpose?"whisperedhe.
