Алая буква
The Governor’s Hall
Ihavenonetogivethee!"
Theyapproachedthedoor,whichwasofanarchedform,andflankedoneachsidebyanarrowtowerorprojectionoftheedifice,inbothofwhichwerelattice-windows,thewoodenshutterstocloseoverthematneed.Liftingtheironhammerthathungattheportal,HesterPrynnegaveasummons,whichwasansweredbyoneoftheGovernor’sbondservant—afree-bornEnglishman,butnowasevenyears’slave.Duringthattermhewastobethepropertyofhismaster,andasmuchacommodityofbargainandsaleasanox,orajoint-stool.Theserfworethecustomarygarbofserving-menatthatperiod,andlongbefore,intheoldhereditaryhallsofEngland.
"IstheworshipfulGovernorBellinghamwithin?"InquiredHester.
"Yea,forsooth,"repliedthebond-servant,staringwithwide-openeyesatthescarletletter,which,beinganew-comerinthecountry,hehadneverbeforeseen."Yea,hishonourableworshipiswithin.Buthehathagodlyministerortwowithhim,andlikewisealeech.Yemaynotseehisworshipnow."
"Nevertheless,Iwillenter,"answeredHesterPrynne;andthebond-servant,perhapsjudgingfromthedecisionofherair,andtheglitteringsymbolinherbosom,thatshewasagreatladyintheland,offerednoopposition.
SothemotherandlittlePearlwereadmittedintothehallofentrance.
