Червона літера
Pearl
Then,muchmorethee!Or,ifnot,thoustrangeandelfishchild,whencedidstthoucome?"
"Tellme!Tellme!"repeatedPearl,nolongerseriously,butlaughingandcaperingaboutthefloor."Itisthouthatmusttellme!"
ButHestercouldnotresolvethequery,usingherselfinadismallabyrinthofdoubt.Sheremembered—betwixtasmileandashudder—thetalkoftheneighbouringtownspeople,who,seekingvainlyelsewhereforthechild’spaternity,andobservingsomeofheroddattributes,hadgivenoutthatpoorlittlePearlwasademonoffspring:suchas,eversinceoldCatholictimes,hadoccasionallybeenseenonearth,throughtheagencyoftheirmother’ssin,andtopromotesomefoulandwickedpurpose.Luther,accordingtothescandalofhismonkishenemies,wasabratofthathellishbreed;norwasPearltheonlychildtowhomthisinauspiciousoriginwasassignedamongtheNewEnglandPuritans.
