Алая буква
The Leech
Hewasnowknowntobeamanofskill;itwasobservedthathegatheredherbsandtheblossomsofwild-flowers,andduguprootsandpluckedofftwigsfromtheforest-treeslikeoneacquaintedwithhiddenvirtuesinwhatwasvaluelesstocommoneyes.HewasheardtospeakofSirKenelmDigbyandotherfamousmen—whosescientificattainmentswereesteemedhardlylessthansupernatural—ashavingbeenhiscorrespondentsorassociates.Why,withsuchrankinthelearnedworld,hadhecomehither?What,couldhe,whosespherewasingreatcities,beseekinginthewilderness?Inanswertothisquery,arumourgainedground—andhoweverabsurd,wasentertainedbysomeverysensiblepeople—thatHeavenhadwroughtanabsolutemiracle,bytransportinganeminentDoctorofPhysicfromaGermanuniversitybodilythroughtheairandsettinghimdownatthedoorofMr.Dimmesdale’sstudy!Individualsofwiserfaith,indeed,whoknewthatHeavenpromotesitspurposeswithoutaimingatthestage-effectofwhatiscalledmiraculousinterposition,wereinclinedtoseeaprovidentialhandinRogerChillingworth’ssoopportunearrival.
Thisideawascountenancedbythestronginterestwhichthephysicianevermanifestedintheyoungclergyman;heattachedhimselftohimasaparishioner,andsoughttowinafriendlyregardandconfidencefromhisnaturallyreservedsensibility.Heexpressedgreatalarmathispastor’sstateofhealth,butwasanxioustoattemptthecure,and,ifearlyundertaken,seemednotdespondentofafavourableresult.
