Червона літера

           "Many,manyapoorsoulhathgivenitsconfidencetome,notonlyonthedeath-bed,butwhilestronginlife,andfairinreputation.Andever,aftersuchanoutpouring,oh,whatareliefhaveIwitnessedinthosesinfulbrethren!evenasinonewhoatlastdrawsfreeair,afteralongstiflingwithhisownpollutedbreath.Howcanitbeotherwise?Whyshouldawretchedman—guilty,wewillsay,ofmurder—prefertokeepthedeadcorpseburiedinhisownheart,ratherthanflingitforthatonce,andlettheuniversetakecareofit!"

           "Yetsomemenburytheirsecretsthus,"observedthecalmphysician.

           "True;therearesuchmen,"answeredMr.Dimmesdale."Butnottosuggestmoreobviousreasons,itmaybethattheyarekeptsilentbytheveryconstitutionoftheirnature.Or—canwenotsupposeit?—guiltyastheymaybe,retaining,nevertheless,azealforGod’sgloryandman’swelfare,theyshrinkfromdisplayingthemselvesblackandfilthyintheviewofmen;because,thenceforward,nogoodcanbeachievedbythem;noevilofthepastberedeemedbybetterservice.So,totheirownunutterabletorment,theygoaboutamongtheirfellow-creatures,lookingpureasnew-fallensnow,whiletheirheartsareallspeckledandspottedwithiniquityofwhichtheycannotridthemselves."

           "Thesemendeceivethemselves,"saidRogerChillingworth,withsomewhatmoreemphasisthanusual,andmakingaslightgesturewithhisforefinger."Theyfeartotakeuptheshamethatrightfullybelongstothem.