Червона літера
The Recognition
"Andmychildmustseekaheavenlyfather;sheshallneverknowanearthlyone!"
"Shewillnotspeak!"murmuredMr.Dimmesdale,who,leaningoverthebalcony,withhishanduponhisheart,hadawaitedtheresultofhisappeal.Henowdrewbackwithalongrespiration."Wondrousstrengtharidgenerosityofawoman’sheart!Shewillnotspeak!"
Discerningtheimpracticablestateofthepoorculprit’smind,theelderclergyman,whohadcarefullypreparedhimselffortheoccasion,addressedtothemultitudeadiscourseonsin,inallitsbranches,butwithcontinualreferencetotheignominiousletter.Soforciblydidhedwelluponthissymbol,forthehourormoreduringwhichisperiodswererollingoverthepeople’sheads,thatitassumednewterrorsintheirimagination,andseemedtoderiveitsscarlethuefromtheflamesoftheinfernalpit.HesterPrynne,meanwhile,keptherplaceuponthepedestalofshame,withglazedeyes,andanairofwearyindifference.Shehadbornethatmorningallthatnaturecouldendure;andashertemperamentwasnotoftheorderthatescapesfromtoointensesufferingbyaswoon,herspiritcouldonlyshelteritselfbeneathastonycrustofinsensibility,whilethefacultiesofanimalliferemainedentire.Inthisstate,thevoiceofthepreacherthunderedremorselessly,butunavailingly,uponherears.Theinfant,duringthelatterportionofherordeal,piercedtheairwithitswailingsandscreams;shestrovetohushitmechanically,butseemedscarcelytosympathisewithitstrouble
