Алая буква
The Governor’s Hall
WehavespokenofPearl’srichandluxuriantbeauty—abeautythatshonewithdeepandvividtints,abrightcomplexion,eyespossessingintensitybothofdepthandglow,andhairalreadyofadeep,glossybrown,andwhich,inafteryears,wouldbenearlyakintoblack.Therewasfireinherandthroughouther:sheseemedtheunpremeditatedoffshootofapassionatemoment.Hermother,incontrivingthechild’sgarb,hadallowedthegorgeoustendenciesofherimaginationtheirfullplay,arrayingherinacrimsonvelvettunicofapeculiarcut,abundantlyembroideredinfantasiesandflourishesofgoldthread.Somuchstrengthofcolouring,whichmusthavegivenawanandpallidaspecttocheeksofafainterbloom,wasadmirablyadaptedtoPearl’sbeauty,andmadehertheverybrightestlittlejetofflamethateverdancedupontheearth.
Butitwasaremarkableattributeofthisgarb,andindeed,ofthechild’swholeappearance,thatitirresistiblyandinevitablyremindedthebeholderofthetokenwhichHesterPrynnewasdoomedtowearuponherbosom.Itwasthescarletletterinanotherform:thescarletletterendowedwithlife!Themotherherself—asiftheredignominyweresodeeplyscorchedintoherbrainthatallherconceptionsassumeditsform—hadcarefullywroughtoutthesimilitude,lavishingmanyhoursofmorbidingenuitytocreateananalogybetweentheobjectofheraffectionandtheemblemofherguiltandtorture.
