Алая буква
The Market–Place
Herattire,whichindeed,shehadwroughtfortheoccasioninprison,andhadmodelledmuchafterherownfancy,seemedtoexpresstheattitudeofherspirit,thedesperaterecklessnessofhermood,byitswildandpicturesquepeculiarity.Butthepointwhichdrewalleyes,and,asitwere,transfiguredthewearer—sothatbothmenandwomenwhohadbeenfamiliarlyacquaintedwithHesterPrynnewerenowimpressedasiftheybeheldherforthefirsttime—wasthatSCARLETLETTER,sofantasticallyembroideredandilluminateduponherbosom.Ithadtheeffectofaspell,takingheroutoftheordinaryrelationswithhumanity,andenclosingherinaspherebyherself.
"Shehathgoodskillatherneedle,that’scertain,"remarkedoneofherfemalespectators;"butdideverawoman,beforethisbrazenhussy,contrivesuchawayofshowingit?Why,gossips,whatisitbuttolaughinthefacesofourgodlymagistrates,andmakeaprideoutofwhatthey,worthygentlemen,meantforapunishment?"
"Itwerewell,"mutteredthemostiron-visagedoftheolddames,"ifwestrippedMadameHester’srichgownoffherdaintyshoulders;andasfortheredletterwhichshehathstitchedsocuriously,I’llbestowaragofmineownrheumaticflanneltomakeafitterone!"
"Oh,peace,neighbours—peace!"whisperedtheiryoungestcompanion;"donotletherhearyou!Notastitchinthatembroideredletterbutshehasfeltitinherheart."
Thegrimbeadlenowmadeagesturewithhisstaff.
