Алая буква
The Market–Place
Itwassoartisticallydone,andwithsomuchfertilityandgorgeousluxurianceoffancy,thatithadalltheeffectofalastandfittingdecorationtotheapparelwhichshewore,andwhichwasofasplendourinaccordancewiththetasteoftheage,butgreatlybeyondwhatwasallowedbythesumptuaryregulationsofthecolony.
Theyoungwomanwastall,withafigureofperfecteleganceonalargescale.Shehaddarkandabundanthair,soglossythatitthrewoffthesunshinewithagleam;andafacewhich,besidesbeingbeautifulfromregularityoffeatureandrichnessofcomplexion,hadtheimpressivenessbelongingtoamarkedbrowanddeepblackeyes.Shewasladylike,too,afterthemannerofthefemininegentilityofthosedays;characterisedbyacertainstateanddignity,ratherthanbythedelicate,evanescent,andindescribablegracewhichisnowrecognisedasitsindication.AndneverhadHesterPrynneappearedmoreladylike,intheantiqueinterpretationoftheterm,thanassheissuedfromtheprison.Thosewhohadbeforeknownher,andhadexpectedtobeholdherdimmedandobscuredbyadisastrouscloud,wereastonished,andevenstartled,toperceivehowherbeautyshoneout,andmadeahaloofthemisfortuneandignominyinwhichshewasenveloped.Itmaybetruethat,toasensitiveobserver,therewassomethingexquisitelypainfulinit.
