Червона літера
The Recognition
"Yousaytruly,"repliedtheother;"Iamastranger,andhavebeenawanderer,sorelyagainstmywill.Ihavemetwithgrievousmishapsbyseaandland,andhavebeenlongheldinbondsamongtheheathen-folktothesouthward;andamnowbroughthitherbythisIndiantoberedeemedoutofmycaptivity.Willitpleaseyou,therefore,totellmeofHesterPrynne’s—haveIhernamerightly?—ofthiswoman’soffences,andwhathasbroughthertoyonderscaffold?"
"Truly,friend;andmethinksitmustgladdenyourheart,afteryourtroublesandsojourninthewilderness,"saidthetownsman,"tofindyourselfatlengthinalandwhereiniquityissearchedoutandpunishedinthesightofrulersandpeople,ashereinourgodlyNewEngland.Yonderwoman,Sir,youmustknow,wasthewifeofacertainlearnedman,Englishbybirth,butwhohadlongagodweltinAmsterdam,whencesomegoodtimeagonehewasmindedtocrossoverandcastinhislotwithusoftheMassachusetts.Tothispurposehesenthiswifebeforehim,remaininghimselftolookaftersomenecessaryaffairs.Marry,goodSir,insometwoyears,orless,thatthewomanhasbeenadwellerhereinBoston,notidingshavecomeofthislearnedgentleman,MasterPrynne;andhisyoungwife,lookyou,beinglefttoherownmisguidance—"
"Ah!—aha!—Iconceiveyou,"saidthestrangerwithabittersmile."Solearnedamanasyouspeakofshouldhavelearnedthistooinhisbooks.
