Алая буква
The Leech
Thispurposeonceeffected,newinterestswouldimmediatelyspringup,andlikewiseanewpurpose;dark,itistrue,ifnotguilty,butofforceenoughtoengagethefullstrengthofhisfaculties.
Inpursuanceofthisresolve,hetookuphisresidenceinthePuritantownasRogerChillingworth,withoutotherintroductionthanthelearningandintelligenceofwhichhepossessedmorethanacommonmeasure.Ashisstudies,atapreviousperiodofhislife,hadmadehimextensivelyacquaintedwiththemedicalscienceoftheday,itwasasaphysicianthathepresentedhimselfandassuchwascordiallyreceived.Skilfulmen,ofthemedicalandchirurgicalprofession,wereofrareoccurrenceinthecolony.Theyseldom,itwouldappear,partookofthereligiouszealthatbroughtotheremigrantsacrosstheAtlantic.Intheirresearchesintothehumanframe,itmaybethatthehigherandmoresubtlefacultiesofsuchmenwerematerialised,andthattheylostthespiritualviewofexistenceamidtheintricaciesofthatwondrousmechanism,whichseemedtoinvolveartenoughtocomprisealloflifewithinitself.Atallevents,thehealthofthegoodtownofBoston,sofarasmedicinehadaughttodowithit,hadhithertolainintheguardianshipofanageddeaconandapothecary,whosepietyandgodlydeportmentwerestrongertestimonialsinhisfavourthananythathecouldhaveproducedintheshapeofadiploma.Theonlysurgeonwasonewhocombinedtheoccasionalexerciseofthatnobleartwiththedailyandhabitualflourishofarazor.
