Алая буква
The Governor’s Hall
Thiswasalargewoodenhouse,builtinafashionofwhichtherearespecimensstillextantinthestreetsofouroldertownsnowmoss—grown,crumblingtodecay,andmelancholyatheartwiththemanysorrowfulorjoyfuloccurrences,rememberedorforgotten,thathavehappenedandpassedawaywithintheirduskychambers.Then,however,therewasthefreshnessofthepassingyearonitsexterior,andthecheerfulness,gleamingforthfromthesunnywindows,ofahumanhabitation,intowhichdeathhadneverentered.Ithad,indeed,averycheeryaspect,thewallsbeingoverspreadwithakindofstucco,inwhichfragmentsofbrokenglasswereplentifullyintermixed;sothat,whenthesunshinefellaslant-wiseoverthefrontoftheedifice,itglitteredandsparkledasifdiamondshadbeenflungagainstitbythedoublehandful.ThebrilliancymighthavebefittedAladdin’spalaceratherthanthemansionofagraveoldPuritanruler.Itwasfurtherdecoratedwithstrangeandseeminglycabalisticfiguresanddiagrams,suitabletothequainttasteoftheagewhichhadbeendrawninthestucco,whennewlylaidon,andhadnowgrownhardanddurable,fortheadmirationofaftertimes.
Pearl,lookingatthisbrightwonderofahousebegantocaperanddance,andimperativelyrequiredthatthewholebreadthofsunshineshouldbestrippedoffitsfront,andgivenhertoplaywith.
"No,mylittlePearl!"saidhermother;"thoumustgatherthineownsunshine.
