A Flood of Sunshine

           ArthurDimmesdalegazedintoHester’sfacewithalookinwhichhopeandjoyshoneout,indeed,butwithfearbetwixtthem,andakindofhorroratherboldness,whohadspokenwhathevaguelyhintedat,butdarednotspeak.

           ButHesterPrynne,withamindofnativecourageandactivity,andforsolongaperiodnotmerelyestranged,butoutlawedfromsociety,hadhabituatedherselftosuchlatitudeofspeculationaswasaltogetherforeigntotheclergyman.Shehadwandered,withoutruleorguidance,inamoralwilderness,asvast,asintricate,andshadowyastheuntamedforest,amidthegloomofwhichtheywerenowholdingacolloquythatwastodecidetheirfate.Herintellectandhearthadtheirhome,asitwere,indesertplaces,wheresheroamedasfreelyasthewildIndianinhiswoods.Foryearspastshehadlookedfromthisestrangedpointofviewathumaninstitutions,andwhateverpriestsorlegislatorshadestablished;criticisingallwithhardlymorereverencethantheIndianwouldfeelfortheclericalband,thejudicialrobe,thepillory,thegallows,thefireside,orthechurch.Thetendencyofherfateandfortuneshadbeentosetherfree.Thescarletletterwasherpassportintoregionswhereotherwomendarednottread.Shame,Despair,Solitude!Thesehadbeenherteachers—sternandwildones—andtheyhadmadeherstrong,buttaughthermuchamiss.