Алая буква
Conclusion
AndonceHesterwasseenembroideringababy-garmentwithsuchalavishrichnessofgoldenfancyaswouldhaveraisedapublictumulthadanyinfantthusapparelled,beenshowntooursober-huedcommunity.
Infine,thegossipsofthatdaybelieved—andMr.SurveyorPue,whomadeinvestigationsacenturylater,believed—andoneofhisrecentsuccessorsinoffice,moreover,faithfullybelieves—thatPearlwasnotonlyalive,butmarried,andhappy,andmindfulofhermother;andthatshewouldmostjoyfullyhaveentertainedthatsadandlonelymotheratherfireside.
ButtherewasamorereallifeforHesterPrynne,here,inNewEngland,thatinthatunknownregionwherePearlhadfoundahome.Herehadbeenhersin;here,hersorrow;andherewasyettobeherpenitence.Shehadreturned,therefore,andresumedofherownfreewill,fornotthesternestmagistrateofthatironperiodwouldhaveimposedit—resumedthesymbolofwhichwehaverelatedsodarkatale.Neverafterwardsdiditquitherbosom.But,inthelapseofthetoilsome,thoughtful,andself-devotedyearsthatmadeupHester’slife,thescarletletterceasedtobeastigmawhichattractedtheworld’sscornandbitterness,andbecameatypeofsomethingtobesorrowedover,andlookeduponwithawe,yetwithreverencetoo.And,asHesterPrynnehadnoselfishends,norlivedinanymeasureforherownprofitandenjoyment,peoplebroughtalltheirsorrowsandperplexities,andbesoughthercounsel,asonewhohadherselfgonethroughamightytrouble.
