Алая буква
The Leech
Dimmesdalewasatruepriest,atruereligionist,withthereverentialsentimentlargelydeveloped,andanorderofmindthatimpelleditselfpowerfullyalongthetrackofacreed,andworeitspassagecontinuallydeeperwiththelapseoftime.Innostateofsocietywouldhehavebeenwhatiscalledamanofliberalviews;itwouldalwaysbeessentialtohispeacetofeelthepressureofafaithabouthim,supporting,whileitconfinedhimwithinitsironframework.Nottheless,however,thoughwithatremulousenjoyment,didhefeeltheoccasionalreliefoflookingattheuniversethroughthemediumofanotherkindofintellectthanthosewithwhichhehabituallyheldconverse.Itwasasifawindowwerethrownopen,admittingafreeratmosphereintothecloseandstifledstudy,wherehislifewaswastingitselfaway,amidlamp-light,orobstructedday-beams,andthemustyfragrance,beitsensualormoral,thatexhalesfrombooks.Buttheairwastoofreshandchilltobelongbreathedwithcomfort.Sotheminister,andthephysicianwithhim,withdrewagainwithinthelimitsofwhattheirChurchdefinedasorthodox.
ThusRogerChillingworthscrutinisedhispatientcarefully,bothashesawhiminhisordinarylife,keepinganaccustomedpathwayintherangeofthoughtsfamiliartohim,andasheappearedwhenthrownamidstothermoralscenery,thenoveltyofwhichmightcalloutsomethingnewtothesurfaceofhischaracter.Hedeemeditessential,itwouldseem,toknowtheman,beforeattemptingtodohimgood.
