Алая буква
The Elf–Child and the Minister
Iwillnotlosethechild!Speakforme!Thouknowest—forthouhastsympathieswhichthesemenlack—thouknowestwhatisinmyheart,andwhatareamother’srights,andhowmuchthestrongertheyarewhenthatmotherhasbutherchildandthescarletletter!Lookthoutoit!Iwillnotlosethechild!Looktoit!"
Atthiswildandsingularappeal,whichindicatedthatHesterPrynne’ssituationhadprovokedhertolittlelessthanmadness,theyoungministeratoncecameforward,pale,andholdinghishandoverhisheart,aswashiscustomwheneverhispeculiarlynervoustemperamentwasthrownintoagitation.HelookednowmorecarewornandemaciatedthanaswedescribedhimatthesceneofHester’spublicignominy;andwhetheritwerehisfailinghealth,orwhateverthecausemightbe,hislargedarkeyeshadaworldofpainintheirtroubledandmelancholydepth.
"Thereistruthinwhatshesays,"begantheminister,withavoicesweet,tremulous,butpowerful,insomuchthatthehallre-echoedandthehollowarmourrangwithit—"truthinwhatHestersays,andinthefeelingwhichinspiresher!Godgaveherthechild,andgaveher,too,aninstinctiveknowledgeofitsnatureandrequirements—bothseeminglysopeculiar—whichnoothermortalbeingcanpossess.And,moreover,istherenotaqualityofawfulsacrednessintherelationbetweenthismotherandthischild?"
"Ay—howisthat,goodMasterDimmesdale?"interruptedtheGovernor."Makethatplain,Iprayyou!"
"Itmustbeevenso,"resumedtheminister.
