Червона літера
The Child at the Brookside
"Leapacrossthebrook,naughtychild,andrunhither!ElseImustcometothee!"
ButPearl,notawhitstartledathermother’sthreatsanymorethanmollifiedbyherentreaties,nowsuddenlyburstintoafitofpassion,gesticulatingviolently,andthrowinghersmallfigureintothemostextravagantcontortionsSheaccompaniedthiswildoutbreakwithpiercingshrieks,whichthewoodsreverberatedonallsides,sothat,aloneasshewasinherchildishandunreasonablewrath,itseemedasifahiddenmultitudewerelendinghertheirsympathyandencouragement.SeeninthebrookoncemorewastheshadowywrathofPearl’simage,crownedandgirdledwithflowers,butstampingitsfoot,wildlygesticulating,and,inthemidstofall,stillpointingitssmallforefingeratHester’sbosom.
"Iseewhatailsthechild,"whisperedHestertotheclergyman,andturningpaleinspiteofastrongefforttoconcealhertroubleandannoyance,"Childrenwillnotabideany,theslightest,changeintheaccustomedaspectofthingsthataredailybeforetheireyes.Pearlmissessomethingthatshehasalwaysseenmewear!"
"Iprayyou,"answeredtheminister,"ifthouhastanymeansofpacifyingthechild,doitforthwith!SaveitwerethecankeredwrathofanoldwitchlikeMistressHibbins,"addedhe,attemptingtosmile,"IknownothingthatIwouldnotsoonerencounterthanthispassioninachild.InPearl’syoungbeauty,asinthewrinkledwitch,ithasapreternaturaleffect.
