Червона літера
The Procession
"ElseIwouldhaveruntohim,andbidhimkissmenow,beforeallthepeople,evenashedidyonderamongthedarkoldtrees.Whatwouldtheministerhavesaid,mother?Wouldhehaveclappedhishandoverhisheart,andscowledonme,andbidmebegone?"
"Whatshouldhesay,Pearl,"answeredHester,"savethatitwasnotimetokiss,andthatkissesarenottobegiveninthemarket-place?Wellforthee,foolishchild,thatthoudidstnotspeaktohim!"
Anothershadeofthesamesentiment,inreferencetoMr.Dimmesdale,wasexpressedbyapersonwhoseeccentricities—insanity,asweshouldtermit—ledhertodowhatfewofthetownspeoplewouldhaveventuredon—tobeginaconversationwiththewearerofthescarletletterinpublic.ItwasMistressHibbins,who,arrayedingreatmagnificence,withatripleruff,abroideredstomacher,agownofrichvelvet,andagold-headedcane,hadcomeforthtoseetheprocession.Asthisancientladyhadtherenown(whichsubsequentlycosthernolessapricethanherlife)ofbeingaprincipalactorinalltheworksofnecromancythatwerecontinuallygoingforward,thecrowdgavewaybeforeher,andseemedtofearthetouchofhergarment,asifitcarriedtheplagueamongitsgorgeousfolds.SeeninconjunctionwithHesterPrynne—kindlyassomanynowfelttowardsthelatter—thedreadinspiredbyMistressHibbinshaddoubled,andcausedageneralmovementfromthatpartofthemarket-placeinwhichthetwowomenstood.
