Червона літера

           Thetruthwas,thatthelittlePuritans,beingofthemostintolerantbroodthateverlived,hadgotavagueideaofsomethingoutlandish,unearthly,oratvariancewithordinaryfashions,inthemotherandchild,andthereforescornedthemintheirhearts,andnotunfrequentlyreviledthemwiththeirtongues.Pearlfeltthesentiment,andrequiteditwiththebitteresthatredthatcanbesupposedtorankleinachildishbosom.Theseoutbreaksofafiercetemperhadakindofvalue,andevencomfortforthemother;becausetherewasatleastanintelligibleearnestnessinthemood,insteadofthefitfulcapricethatsooftenthwartedherinthechild’smanifestations.Itappalledher,nevertheless,todiscernhere,again,ashadowyreflectionoftheevilthathadexistedinherself.AllthisenmityandpassionhadPearlinherited,byinalienableright,outofHester’sheart.Motheranddaughterstoodtogetherinthesamecircleofseclusionfromhumansociety;andinthenatureofthechildseemedtobeperpetuatedthoseunquietelementsthathaddistractedHesterPrynnebeforePearl’sbirth,buthadsincebeguntobesoothedawaybythesofteninginfluencesofmaternity.

           Athome,withinandaroundhermother’scottage,Pearlwantednotawideandvariouscircleofacquaintance.Thespelloflifewentforthfromherever-creativespirit,andcommunicateditselftoathousandobjects,asatorchkindlesaflamewhereveritmaybeapplied.