Алая буква
The Interview
I—amanofthought—thebook-wormofgreatlibraries—amanalreadyindecay,havinggivenmybestyearstofeedthehungrydreamofknowledge—whathadItodowithyouthandbeautylikethineown?Misshapenfrommybirth-hour,howcouldIdeludemyselfwiththeideathatintellectualgiftsmightveilphysicaldeformityinayounggirl’sfantasy?Mencallmewise.Ifsageswereeverwiseintheirownbehoof,Imighthaveforeseenallthis.Imighthaveknownthat,asIcameoutofthevastanddismalforest,andenteredthissettlementofChristianmen,theveryfirstobjecttomeetmyeyeswouldbethyself,HesterPrynne,standingup,astatueofignominy,beforethepeople.Nay,fromthemomentwhenwecamedowntheoldchurch-stepstogether,amarriedpair,Imighthavebeheldthebale-fireofthatscarletletterblazingattheendofourpath!"
"Thouknowest,"saidHester—for,depressedasshewas,shecouldnotendurethislastquietstabatthetokenofhershame—"thouknowestthatIwasfrankwiththee.Ifeltnolove,norfeignedany."
"True,"repliedhe."Itwasmyfolly!Ihavesaidit.But,uptothatepochofmylife,Ihadlivedinvain.Theworldhadbeensocheerless!Myheartwasahabitationlargeenoughformanyguests,butlonelyandchill,andwithoutahouseholdfire.Ilongedtokindleone!Itseemednotsowildadream—oldasIwas,andsombreasIwas,andmisshapenasIwas—thatthesimplebliss,whichisscatteredfarandwide,forallmankindtogatherup,mightyetbemine.
