Червона літера
The Leech
Thenewabodeofthetwofriendswaswithapiouswidow,ofgoodsocialrank,whodweltinahousecoveringprettynearlythesiteonwhichthevenerablestructureofKing’sChapelhassincebeenbuilt.Ithadthegraveyard,originallyIsaacJohnson’shome-field,ononeside,andsowaswelladaptedtocallupseriousreflections,suitedtotheirrespectiveemployments,inbothministerandmanofphysic.ThemotherlycareofthegoodwidowassignedtoMr.Dimmesdaleafrontapartment,withasunnyexposure,andheavywindow-curtains,tocreateanoontideshadowwhendesirable.Thewallswerehungroundwithtapestry,saidtobefromtheGobelinlooms,and,atallevents,representingtheScripturalstoryofDavidandBathsheba,andNathantheProphet,incoloursstillunfaded,butwhichmadethefairwomanofthescenealmostasgrimlypicturesqueasthewoe-denouncingseer.Herethepaleclergymanpileduphislibrary,richwithparchment-boundfoliosoftheFathers,andtheloreofRabbis,andmonkisherudition,ofwhichtheProtestantdivines,evenwhiletheyvilifiedanddecriedthatclassofwriters,wereyetconstrainedoftentoavailthemselves.Ontheothersideofthehouse,oldRogerChillingwortharrangedhisstudyandlaboratory:notsuchasamodernmanofsciencewouldreckoneventolerablycomplete,butprovidedwithadistillingapparatusandthemeansofcompoundingdrugsandchemicals,whichthepractisedalchemistknewwellhowtoturntopurpose.
