Алая буква
Hester at Her Needle
Yetthetasteoftheage,demandingwhateverwaselaborateincompositionsofthiskind,didnotfailtoextenditsinfluenceoveroursternprogenitors,whohadcastbehindthemsomanyfashionswhichitmightseemhardertodispensewith.
Publicceremonies,suchasordinations,theinstallationofmagistrates,andallthatcouldgivemajestytotheformsinwhichanewgovernmentmanifesteditselftothepeople,were,asamatterofpolicy,markedbyastatelyandwell-conductedceremonial,andasombre,butyetastudiedmagnificence.Deepruffs,painfullywroughtbands,andgorgeouslyembroideredgloves,werealldeemednecessarytotheofficialstateofmenassumingthereinsofpower,andwerereadilyallowedtoindividualsdignifiedbyrankorwealth,evenwhilesumptuarylawsforbadetheseandsimilarextravagancestotheplebeianorder.Inthearrayoffunerals,too—whetherfortheapparelofthedeadbody,ortotypify,bymanifoldemblematicdevicesofsableclothandsnowylawn,thesorrowofthesurvivors—therewasafrequentandcharacteristicdemandforsuchlabourasHesterPrynnecouldsupply.Baby-linen—forbabiesthenworerobesofstate—affordedstillanotherpossibilityoftoilandemolument.
Bydegrees,notveryslowly,herhandiworkbecamewhatwouldnowbetermedthefashion.
