Червона літера

           Certainlytherewasnophysicaldefect.Byitsperfectshape,itsvigour,anditsnaturaldexterityintheuseofallitsuntriedlimbs,theinfantwasworthytohavebeenbroughtforthinEden:worthytohavebeenlefttheretobetheplaythingoftheangelsaftertheworld’sfirstparentsweredrivenout.Thechildhadanativegracewhichdoesnotinvariablyco-existwithfaultlessbeauty;itsattire,howeversimple,alwaysimpressedthebeholderasifitweretheverygarbthatpreciselybecameitbest.ButlittlePearlwasnotcladinrusticweeds.Hermother,withamorbidpurposethatmaybebetterunderstoodhereafter,hadboughttherichesttissuesthatcouldbeprocured,andallowedherimaginativefacultyitsfullplayinthearrangementanddecorationofthedresseswhichthechildworebeforethepubliceye.Somagnificentwasthesmallfigurewhenthusarrayed,andsuchwasthesplendourofPearl’sownproperbeauty,shiningthroughthegorgeousrobeswhichmighthaveextinguishedapalerloveliness,thattherewasanabsolutecircleofradiancearoundheronthedarksomecottagefloor.Andyetarussetgown,tornandsoiledwiththechild’srudeplay,madeapictureofherjustasperfect.Pearl’saspectwasimbuedwithaspellofinfinitevariety;inthisonechildthereweremanychildren,comprehendingthefullscopebetweenthewild-flowerprettinessofapeasant-baby,andthepomp,inlittle,ofaninfantprincess.