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The Elf–Child and the Minister
"Iprofess,Ihaveneverseenthelikesincemydaysofvanity,inoldKingJames’stime,whenIwaswonttoesteemitahighfavourtobeadmittedtoacourtmask!Thereusedtobeaswarmofthesesmallapparitionsinholidaytime,andwecalledthemchildrenoftheLordofMisrule.Buthowgatsuchaguestintomyhall?"
"Ay,indeed!"criedgoodoldMr.Wilson."Whatlittlebirdofscarletplumagemaythisbe?MethinksIhaveseenjustsuchfigureswhenthesunhasbeenshiningthrougharichlypaintedwindow,andtracingoutthegoldenandcrimsonimagesacrossthefloor.Butthatwasintheoldland.Prithee,youngone,whoartthou,andwhathasailedthymothertobedizentheeinthisstrangefashion?ArtthouaChristianchild—ha?Dostknowthycatechism?Orartthouoneofthosenaughtyelfsorfairieswhomwethoughttohaveleftbehindus,withotherrelicsofPapistry,inmerryoldEngland?"
"Iammother’schild,"answeredthescarletvision,"andmynameisPearl!"
"Pearl?—Ruby,rather—orCoral!—orRedRose,attheveryleast,judgingfromthyhue!"respondedtheoldminister,puttingforthhishandinavainattempttopatlittlePearlonthecheek."Butwhereisthismotherofthine?Ah!Isee,"headded;and,turningtoGovernorBellingham,whispered,"Thisistheselfsamechildofwhomwehaveheldspeechtogether;andbeholdheretheunhappywoman,HesterPrynne,hermother!"
"Sayestthouso?"criedtheGovernor.
