Червона літера
Hester and Pearl
Perceivingaflockofbeach-birdsthatfedandflutteredalongtheshore,thenaughtychildpickedupherapronfullofpebbles,and,creepingfromrocktorockafterthesesmallsea-fowl,displayedremarkabledexterityinpeltingthem.Onelittlegraybird,withawhitebreast,Pearlwasalmostsurehadbeenhitbyapebble,andflutteredawaywithabrokenwing.Butthentheelf-childsighed,andgaveuphersport,becauseitgrievedhertohavedoneharmtoalittlebeingthatwasaswildasthesea-breeze,oraswildasPearlherself.
Herfinalemploymentwastogatherseaweedofvariouskinds,andmakeherselfascarformantle,andahead-dress,andthusassumetheaspectofalittlemermaid.Sheinheritedhermother’sgiftfordevisingdraperyandcostume.Asthelasttouchtohermermaid’sgarb,Pearltooksomeeel-grassandimitated,asbestshecould,onherownbosomthedecorationwithwhichshewassofamiliaronhermother’s.Aletter—theletterA—butfreshlygreeninsteadofscarlet.Thechildbentherchinuponherbreast,andcontemplatedthisdevicewithstrangeinterest,evenasiftheoneonlythingforwhichshehadbeensentintotheworldwastomakeoutitshiddenimport.
"Iwonderifmotherwillaskmewhatitmeans?"thoughtPearl.
Justthensheheardhermother’svoice,and,flittingalongaslightlyasoneofthelittlesea-birds,appearedbeforeHesterPrynnedancing,laughing,andpointingherfingertotheornamentuponherbosom.
