The Leech

           UndertheappellationofRogerChillingworth,thereaderwillremember,washiddenanothername,whichitsformerwearerhadresolvedshouldnevermorebespoken.Ithasbeenrelated,how,inthecrowdthatwitnessedHesterPrynne’signominiousexposure,stoodaman,elderly,travel-worn,who,justemergingfromtheperilouswilderness,beheldthewoman,inwhomhehopedtofindembodiedthewarmthandcheerfulnessofhome,setupasatypeofsinbeforethepeople.Hermatronlyfamewastroddenunderallmen’sfeet.Infamywasbabblingaroundherinthepublicmarket-place.Forherkindred,shouldthetidingseverreachthem,andforthecompanionsofherunspottedlife,thereremainednothingbutthecontagionofherdishonour;whichwouldnotfailtobedistributedinstrictaccordancearidproportionwiththeintimacyandsacrednessoftheirpreviousrelationship.Thenwhy—sincethechoicewaswithhimself—shouldtheindividual,whoseconnexionwiththefallenwomanhadbeenthemostintimateandsacredofthemall,comeforwardtovindicatehisclaimtoaninheritancesolittledesirable?Heresolvednottobepilloriedbesideheronherpedestalofshame.UnknowntoallbutHesterPrynne,andpossessingthelockandkeyofhersilence,hechosetowithdrawhisnamefromtherollofmankind,and,asregardedhisformertiesandinterest,tovanishoutoflifeascompletelyasifheindeedlayatthebottomoftheocean,whitherrumourhadlongagoconsignedhim.