Алая буква
Hester at Her Needle
Sometimestheredinfamyuponherbreastwouldgiveasympatheticthrob,asshepassednearavenerableministerormagistrate,themodelofpietyandjustice,towhomthatageofantiquereverencelookedup,astoamortalmaninfellowshipwithangels."Whatevilthingisathand?"wouldHestersaytoherself.Liftingherreluctanteyes,therewouldbenothinghumanwithinthescopeofview,savetheformofthisearthlysaint!Againamysticsisterhoodwouldcontumaciouslyassertitself,asshemetthesanctifiedfrownofsomematron,who,accordingtotherumourofalltongues,hadkeptcoldsnowwithinherbosomthroughoutlife.Thatunsunnedsnowinthematron’sbosom,andtheburningshameonHesterPrynne’s—whathadthetwoincommon?Or,oncemore,theelectricthrillwouldgiveherwarning—"BeholdHester,hereisacompanion!"and,lookingup,shewoulddetecttheeyesofayoungmaidenglancingatthescarletletter,shylyandaside,andquicklyaverted,withafaint,chillcrimsoninhercheeksasifherpurityweresomewhatsulliedbythatmomentaryglance.OFiend,whosetalismanwasthatfatalsymbol,wouldstthouleavenothing,whetherinyouthorage,forthispoorsinnertorevere?—suchlossoffaithiseveroneofthesaddestresultsofsin.Beitacceptedasaproofthatallwasnotcorruptinthispoorvictimofherownfrailty,andman’shardlaw,thatHesterPrynneyetstruggledtobelievethatnofellow-mortalwasguiltylikeherself
