Алая буква
The Governor’s Hall
Buttheproprietorappearedalreadytohaverelinquishedashopeless,theefforttoperpetuateonthissideoftheAtlantic,inahardsoil,andamidtheclosestruggleforsubsistence,thenativeEnglishtasteforornamentalgardening.Cabbagesgrewinplainsight;andapumpkin-vine,rootedatsomedistance,hadrunacrosstheinterveningspace,anddepositedoneofitsgiganticproductsdirectlybeneaththehallwindow,asiftowarntheGovernorthatthisgreatlumpofvegetablegoldwasasrichanornamentasNewEnglandearthwouldofferhim.Therewereafewrose-bushes,however,andanumberofapple-trees,probablythedescendantsofthoseplantedbytheReverendMr.Blackstone,thefirstsettlerofthepeninsula;thathalfmythologicalpersonagewhoridesthroughourearlyannals,seatedonthebackofabull.
Pearl,seeingtherose-bushes,begantocryforaredrose,andwouldnotbepacified.
"Hush,child—hush!"saidhermother,earnestly."Donotcry,dearlittlePearl!Ihearvoicesinthegarden.TheGovernoriscoming,andgentlemenalongwithhim."
Infact,adownthevistaofthegardenavenue,anumberofpersonswereseenapproachingtowardsthehouse.Pearl,inutterscornofhermother’sattempttoquiether,gaveaneldritchscream,andthenbecamesilent,notfromanymotionofobedience,butbecausethequickandmobilecuriosityofherdispositionwasexcitedbytheappearanceofthosenewpersonages.
