The Minister in a Maze

           Astheministerdeparted,inadvanceofHesterPrynneandlittlePearl,hethrewabackwardglance,halfexpectingthatheshoulddiscoveronlysomefaintlytracedfeaturesoroutlineofthemotherandthechild,slowlyfadingintothetwilightofthewoods.Sogreatavicissitudeinhislifecouldnotatoncebereceivedasreal.ButtherewasHester,cladinhergrayrobe,stillstandingbesidethetree-trunk,whichsomeblasthadoverthrownalongantiquityago,andwhichtimehadeversincebeencoveringwithmoss,sothatthesetwofatedones,withearth’sheaviestburdenonthem,mighttheresitdowntogether,andfindasinglehour’srestandsolace.AndtherewasPearl,too,lightlydancingfromthemarginofthebrook—nowthattheintrusivethirdpersonwasgone—andtakingheroldplacebyhermother’sside.Sotheministerhadnotfallenasleepanddreamed!

           Inordertofreehismindfromthisindistinctnessandduplicityofimpression,whichvexeditwithastrangedisquietude,herecalledandmorethoroughlydefinedtheplanswhichHesterandhimselfhadsketchedfortheirdeparture.IthadbeendeterminedbetweenthemthattheOldWorld,withitscrowdsandcities,offeredthemamoreeligibleshelterandconcealmentthanthewildsofNewEnglandorallAmerica,withitsalternativesofanIndianwigwam,orthefewsettlementsofEuropeansscatteredthinlyalongthesea-board.