Алая буква
Hester at Her Needle
(HadHestersinnedalone?)
Herimaginationwassomewhataffected,and,hadshebeenofasoftermoralandintellectualfibrewouldhavebeenstillmoreso,bythestrangeandsolitaryanguishofherlife.Walkingtoandfro,withthoselonelyfootsteps,inthelittleworldwithwhichshewasoutwardlyconnected,itnowandthenappearedtoHester—ifaltogetherfancy,itwasneverthelesstoopotenttoberesisted—shefeltorfancied,then,thatthescarletletterhadendowedherwithanewsense.Sheshudderedtobelieve,yetcouldnothelpbelieving,thatitgaveherasympatheticknowledgeofthehiddensininotherhearts.Shewasterror-strickenbytherevelationsthatwerethusmade.Whatwerethey?
Couldtheybeotherthantheinsidiouswhispersofthebadangel,whowouldfainhavepersuadedthestrugglingwoman,asyetonlyhalfhisvictim,thattheoutwardguiseofpuritywasbutalie,andthat,iftruthwereeverywheretobeshown,ascarletletterwouldblazeforthonmanyabosombesidesHesterPrynne’s?Or,mustshereceivethoseintimations—soobscure,yetsodistinct—astruth?Inallhermiserableexperience,therewasnothingelsesoawfulandsoloathsomeasthissense.Itperplexed,aswellasshockedher,bytheirreverentinopportunenessoftheoccasionsthatbroughtitintovividaction.
