Алая буква
The Elf–Child and the Minister
"Hereisachildofthreeyearsold,andshecannottellwhomadeher!Withoutquestion,sheisequallyinthedarkastohersoul,itspresentdepravity,andfuturedestiny!Methinks,gentlemen,weneedinquirenofurther."
HestercaughtholdofPearl,anddrewherforciblyintoherarms,confrontingtheoldPuritanmagistratewithalmostafierceexpression.Aloneintheworld,castoffbyit,andwiththissoletreasuretokeepherheartalive,shefeltthatshepossessedindefeasiblerightsagainsttheworld,andwasreadytodefendthemtothedeath.
"Godgavemethechild!"criedshe."Hegaveherinrequitalofallthingselsewhichyehadtakenfromme.Sheismyhappiness—sheismytorture,nonetheless!Pearlkeepsmehereinlife!Pearlpunishesme,too!Seeyenot,sheisthescarletletter,onlycapableofbeingloved,andsoendowedwithamillionfoldthepowerofretributionformysin?Yeshallnottakeher!Iwilldiefirst!"
"Mypoorwoman,"saidthenotunkindoldminister,"thechildshallbewellcaredfor—farbetterthanthoucanstdoforit."
"Godgaveherintomykeeping!"repeatedHesterPrynne,raisinghervoicealmosttoashriek."Iwillnotgiveherup!"Andherebyasuddenimpulse,sheturnedtotheyoungclergyman,Mr.Dimmesdale,atwhom,uptothismoment,shehadseemedhardlysomuchasoncetodirecthereyes."Speakthouforme!"criedshe."Thouwastmypastor,andhadstchargeofmysoul,andknowestmebetterthanthesemencan.
