Алая буква
Hester at Her Needle
Inthismatter,HesterPrynnecametohaveaparttoperformintheworld.Withhernativeenergyofcharacterandrarecapacity,itcouldnotentirelycastheroff,althoughithadsetamarkuponher,moreintolerabletoawoman’sheartthanthatwhichbrandedthebrowofCain.Inallherintercoursewithsociety,however,therewasnothingthatmadeherfeelasifshebelongedtoit.Everygesture,everyword,andeventhesilenceofthosewithwhomshecameincontact,implied,andoftenexpressed,thatshewasbanished,andasmuchaloneasifsheinhabitedanothersphere,orcommunicatedwiththecommonnaturebyotherorgansandsensesthantherestofhumankind.Shestoodapartfrommoralinterests,yetclosebesidethem,likeaghostthatrevisitsthefamiliarfireside,andcannolongermakeitselfseenorfelt;nomoresmilewiththehouseholdjoy,normournwiththekindredsorrow;or,shoulditsucceedinmanifestingitsforbiddensympathy,awakeningonlyterrorandhorriblerepugnance.Theseemotions,infact,anditsbitterestscornbesides,seemedtobethesoleportionthatsheretainedintheuniversalheart.Itwasnotanageofdelicacy;andherposition,althoughsheunderstooditwell,andwasinlittledangerofforgettingit,wasoftenbroughtbeforehervividself-perception,likeanewanguish,bytherudesttouchuponthetenderestspot.Thepoor,aswehavealreadysaid,whomshesoughtouttobetheobjectsofherbounty,oftenreviledthehandthatwasstretchedforthtosuccourthem.
