Howstrangeitseemedtothesadwoman,asshewatchedthegrowth,andthebeautythatbecameeverydaymorebrilliant,andtheintelligencethatthrewitsquiveringsunshineoverthetinyfeaturesofthischild!
HerPearl—forsohadHestercalledher;notasanameexpressiveofheraspect,whichhadnothingofthecalm,white,unimpassionedlustrethatwouldbeindicatedbythecomparison.
Butshenamedtheinfant“Pearl,”asbeingofgreatprice—purchasedwithallshehad—hermother’sonlytreasure!Howstrange,indeed!
Manhadmarkedthiswoman’ssinbyascarletletter,whichhadsuchpotentanddisastrousefficacythatnohumansympathycouldreachher,saveitweresinfullikeherself.
God,asadirectconsequenceofthesinwhichmanthuspunished,hadgivenheralovelychild,whoseplacewasonthatsamedishonouredbosom,toconnectherparentforeverwiththeraceanddescentofmortals,andtobefinallyablessedsoulinheaven!
Dayafterdayshelookedfearfullyintothechild’sexpandingnature,everdreadingtodetectsomedarkandwildpeculiaritythatshouldcorrespondwiththeguiltinesstowhichsheowedherbeing.
Certainlytherewasnophysicaldefect.Byitsperfectshape,itsvigour,anditsnaturaldexterityintheuseofallitsuntriedlimbs,theinfantwasworthytohavebeenbroughtforthinEden:worthytohavebeenlefttheretobetheplaythingoftheangelsaftertheworld’sfirstparentsweredrivenout.
Thechildhadanativegracewhichdoesnotinvariablyco–existwithfaultlessbeauty;itsattire,howeversimple,alwaysimpressedthebeholderasifitweretheverygarbthatpreciselybecameitbest.
Hermother,withamorbidpurposethatmaybebetterunderstoodhereafter,hadboughttherichesttissuesthatcouldbeprocured,andallowedherimaginativefacultyitsfullplayinthearrangementanddecorationofthedresseswhichthechildworebeforethepubliceye.
Somagnificentwasthesmallfigurewhenthusarrayed,andsuchwasthesplendourofPearl’sownproperbeauty,shiningthroughthegorgeousrobeswhichmighthaveextinguishedapalerloveliness,thattherewasanabsolutecircleofradiancearoundheronthedarksomecottagefloor.
Pearl’saspectwasimbuedwithaspellofinfinitevariety;inthisonechildthereweremanychildren,comprehendingthefullscopebetweenthewild–flowerprettinessofapeasant–baby,andthepomp,inlittle,ofaninfantprincess.
Throughoutall,however,therewasatraitofpassion,acertaindepthofhue,whichsheneverlost;andifinanyofherchanges,shehadgrownfainterorpaler,shewouldhaveceasedtobeherself—itwouldhavebeennolongerPearl!
Hernatureappearedtopossessdepth,too,aswellasvariety;but—orelseHester’sfearsdeceivedher—itlackedreferenceandadaptationtotheworldintowhichshewasborn.
Ingivingherexistenceagreatlawhadbeenbroken;andtheresultwasabeingwhoseelementswereperhapsbeautifulandbrilliant,butallindisorder,orwithanorderpeculiartothemselves,amidstwhichthepointofvarietyandarrangementwasdifficultorimpossibletobediscovered.
Hestercouldonlyaccountforthechild’scharacter—andeventhenmostvaguelyandimperfectly—byrecallingwhatsheherselfhadbeenduringthatmomentousperiodwhilePearlwasimbibinghersoulfromthespiritualworld,andherbodilyframefromitsmaterialofearth.
Themother’simpassionedstatehadbeenthemediumthroughwhichweretransmittedtotheunborninfanttheraysofitsmorallife;and,howeverwhiteandclearoriginally,theyhadtakenthedeepstainsofcrimsonandgold,thefierylustre,theblackshadow,andtheuntemperedlightoftheinterveningsubstance.
Shecouldrecognizeherwild,desperate,defiantmood,theflightinessofhertemper,andevensomeoftheverycloud–shapesofgloomanddespondencythathadbroodedinherheart.
Theywerenowilluminatedbythemorningradianceofayoungchild’sdisposition,but,laterinthedayofearthlyexistence,mightbeprolificofthestormandwhirlwind.
Thefrown,theharshrebuke,thefrequentapplicationoftherod,enjoinedbyScripturalauthority,wereused,notmerelyinthewayofpunishmentforactualoffences,butasawholesomeregimenforthegrowthandpromotionofallchildishvirtues.
HesterPrynne,nevertheless,thelovingmotherofthisonechild,ranlittleriskoferringonthesideofundueseverity.
Mindful,however,ofherownerrorsandmisfortunes,sheearlysoughttoimposeatenderbutstrictcontrolovertheinfantimmortalitythatwascommittedtohercharge.Butthetaskwasbeyondherskill.
aftertestingbothsmilesandfrowns,andprovingthatneithermodeoftreatmentpossessedanycalculableinfluence,Hesterwasultimatelycompelledtostandasideandpermitthechildtobeswayedbyherownimpulses.
Astoanyotherkindofdiscipline,whetheraddressedtohermindorheart,littlePearlmightormightnotbewithinitsreach,inaccordancewiththecapricethatruledthemoment.
Hermother,whilePearlwasyetaninfant,grewacquaintedwithacertainpeculiarlook,thatwarnedherwhenitwouldbelabourthrownawaytoinsist,persuadeorplead.
Itwasalooksointelligent,yetinexplicable,perverse,sometimessomalicious,butgenerallyaccompaniedbyawildflowofspirits,thatHestercouldnothelpquestioningatsuchmomentswhetherPearlwasahumanchild.
Sheseemedratheranairysprite,which,afterplayingitsfantasticsportsforalittlewhileuponthecottagefloor,wouldflitawaywithamockingsmile.
Wheneverthatlookappearedinherwild,bright,deeplyblackeyes,itinvestedherwithastrangeremotenessandintangibility:itwasasifshewerehoveringintheair,andmightvanish,likeaglimmeringlightthatcomesweknownotwhenceandgoesweknownotwhither.
Beholdingit,Hesterwasconstrainedtorushtowardsthechild—topursuethelittleelfintheflightwhichsheinvariablybegan—tosnatchhertoherbosomwithaclosepressureandearnestkisses—notsomuchfromoverflowingloveastoassureherselfthatPearlwasfleshandblood,andnotutterlydelusive.
Heart–smittenatthisbewilderingandbafflingspell,thatsooftencamebetweenherselfandhersoletreasure,whomshehadboughtsodear,andwhowasallherworld,Hestersometimesburstintopassionatetears.
Then,perhaps—fortherewasnoforeseeinghowitmightaffecther—Pearlwouldfrown,andclenchherlittlefist,andhardenhersmallfeaturesintoastern,unsympathisinglookofdiscontent.
Or—butthismorerarelyhappened—shewouldbeconvulsedwithrageofgriefandsoboutherloveforhermotherinbrokenwords,andseemintentonprovingthatshehadaheartbybreakingit.
Broodingoverallthesematters,themotherfeltlikeonewhohasevokedaspirit,but,bysomeirregularityintheprocessofconjuration,hasfailedtowinthemaster–wordthatshouldcontrolthisnewandincomprehensibleintelligence.
Thenshewassureofher,andtastedhoursofquiet,sad,delicioushappiness;until—perhapswiththatperverseexpressionglimmeringfrombeneathheropeninglids—littlePearlawoke!
Howsoon—withwhatstrangerapidity,indeeddidPearlarriveatanagethatwascapableofsocialintercoursebeyondthemother’sever–readysmileandnonsense–words!
AndthenwhatahappinesswouldithavebeencouldHesterPrynnehaveheardherclear,bird–likevoiceminglingwiththeuproarofotherchildishvoices,andhavedistinguishedandunravelledherowndarling’stones,amidalltheentangledoutcryofagroupofsportivechildren.Butthiscouldneverbe.
Nothingwasmoreremarkablethantheinstinct,asitseemed,withwhichthechildcomprehendedherloneliness:thedestinythathaddrawnaninviolablecircleroundabouther:thewholepeculiarity,inshort,ofherpositioninrespecttootherchildren.
Inallherwalksaboutthetown,Pearl,too,wasthere:firstasthebabeinarms,andafterwardsasthelittlegirl,smallcompanionofhermother,holdingaforefingerwithherwholegrasp,andtrippingalongattherateofthreeorfourfootstepstooneofHester’s.
Shesawthechildrenofthesettlementonthegrassymarginofthestreet,oratthedomesticthresholds,disportingthemselvesinsuchgrimfashionsasthePuritanicnurturewouldpermit!
playingatgoingtochurch,perchance,oratscourgingQuakers,ortakingscalpsinashamfightwiththeIndians,orscaringoneanotherwithfreaksofimitativewitchcraft.
Ifthechildrengatheredabouther,astheysometimesdid,Pearlwouldgrowpositivelyterribleinherpunywrath,snatchingupstonestoflingatthem,withshrill,incoherentexclamations,thatmadehermothertremble,becausetheyhadsomuchthesoundofawitch’sanathemasinsomeunknowntongue.
Thetruthwas,thatthelittlePuritans,beingofthemostintolerantbroodthateverlived,hadgotavagueideaofsomethingoutlandish,unearthly,oratvariancewithordinaryfashions,inthemotherandchild,andthereforescornedthemintheirhearts,andnotunfrequentlyreviledthemwiththeirtongues.
Theseoutbreaksofafiercetemperhadakindofvalue,andevencomfortforthemother;becausetherewasatleastanintelligibleearnestnessinthemood,insteadofthefitfulcapricethatsooftenthwartedherinthechild’smanifestations.
Motheranddaughterstoodtogetherinthesamecircleofseclusionfromhumansociety;andinthenatureofthechildseemedtobeperpetuatedthoseunquietelementsthathaddistractedHesterPrynnebeforePearl’sbirth,buthadsincebeguntobesoothedawaybythesofteninginfluencesofmaternity.
Thespelloflifewentforthfromherever–creativespirit,andcommunicateditselftoathousandobjects,asatorchkindlesaflamewhereveritmaybeapplied.
Theunlikeliestmaterials—astick,abunchofrags,aflower—werethepuppetsofPearl’switchcraft,and,withoutundergoinganyoutwardchange,becamespirituallyadaptedtowhateverdramaoccupiedthestageofherinnerworld.
Thepine–trees,aged,black,andsolemn,andflinginggroansandothermelancholyutterancesonthebreeze,neededlittletransformationtofigureasPuritanelderstheugliestweedsofthegardenweretheirchildren,whomPearlsmotedownanduprootedmostunmercifully.
Itwaswonderful,thevastvarietyofformsintowhichshethrewherintellect,withnocontinuity,indeed,butdartingupanddancing,alwaysinastateofpreternaturalactivity—soonsinkingdown,asifexhaustedbysorapidandfeverishatideoflife—andsucceededbyothershapesofasimilarwildenergy.
Inthemereexerciseofthefancy,however,andthesportivenessofagrowingmind,theremightbealittlemorethanwasobservableinotherchildrenofbrightfaculties;exceptasPearl,inthedearthofhumanplaymates,wasthrownmoreuponthevisionarythrongwhichshecreated.
Thesingularitylayinthehostilefeelingswithwhichthechildregardedalltheseoffspringsofherownheartandmind.
Shenevercreatedafriend,butseemedalwaystobesowingbroadcastthedragon’steeth,whencesprungaharvestofarmedenemies,againstwhomsherushedtobattle.
Itwasinexpressiblysad—thenwhatdepthofsorrowtoamother,whofeltinherownheartthecause—toobserve,inonesoyoung,thisconstantrecognitionofanadverseworld,andsofierceatrainingoftheenergiesthatweretomakegoodhercauseinthecontestthatmustensue.
GazingatPearl,HesterPrynneoftendroppedherworkuponherknees,andcriedoutwithanagonywhichshewouldfainhavehidden,butwhichmadeutteranceforitselfbetwixtspeechandagroan—“OFatherinHeaven—ifThouartstillmyFather—whatisthisbeingwhichIhavebroughtintotheworld?”
AndPearl,overhearingtheejaculation,orawarethroughsomemoresubtilechannel,ofthosethrobsofanguish,wouldturnhervividandbeautifullittlefaceuponhermother,smilewithsprite–likeintelligence,andresumeherplay.
—notthemother’ssmile,respondingtoit,asotherbabiesdo,bythatfaint,embryosmileofthelittlemouth,rememberedsodoubtfullyafterwards,andwithsuchfonddiscussionwhetheritwereindeedasmile.Bynomeans!
Oneday,ashermotherstoopedoverthecradle,theinfant’seyeshadbeencaughtbytheglimmeringofthegoldembroideryabouttheletter;andputtingupherlittlehandshegraspedatit,smiling,notdoubtfully,butwithadecidedgleam,thatgaveherfacethelookofamucholderchild.
Then,gaspingforbreath,didHesterPrynneclutchthefataltoken,instinctivelyendeavouringtotearitaway,soinfinitewasthetortureinflictedbytheintelligenttouchofPearl’sbaby–hand.
Again,asifhermother’sagonizedgestureweremeantonlytomakesportforher,didlittlePearllookintohereyes,andsmile.
Fromthatepoch,exceptwhenthechildwasasleep,Hesterhadneverfeltamoment’ssafety:notamoment’scalmenjoymentofher.
Weeks,itistrue,wouldsometimeselapse,duringwhichPearl’sgazemightneveroncebefixeduponthescarletletter;butthen,again,itwouldcomeatunawares,likethestrokeofsuddendeath,andalwayswiththatpeculiarsmileandoddexpressionoftheeyes.
Oncethisfreakish,elvishcastcameintothechild’seyeswhileHesterwaslookingatherownimageinthem,asmothersarefondofdoing;andsuddenlyforwomeninsolitude,andwithtroubledhearts,arepesteredwithunaccountabledelusionsshefanciedthatshebeheld,notherownminiatureportrait,butanotherfaceinthesmallblackmirrorofPearl’seye.
Itwasaface,fiend–like,fullofsmilingmalice,yetbearingthesemblanceoffeaturesthatshehadknownfullwell,thoughseldomwithasmile,andneverwithmaliceinthem.
Intheafternoonofacertainsummer’sday,afterPearlgrewbigenoughtorunabout,sheamusedherselfwithgatheringhandfulsofwildflowers,andflingingthem,onebyone,athermother’sbosom;dancingupanddownlikealittleelfwhenevershehitthescarletletter.
Butwhetherfromprideorresignation,orafeelingthatherpenancemightbestbewroughtoutbythisunutterablepain,sheresistedtheimpulse,andsaterect,paleasdeath,lookingsadlyintolittlePearl’swildeyes.
Stillcamethebatteryofflowers,almostinvariablyhittingthemark,andcoveringthemother’sbreastwithhurtsforwhichshecouldfindnobalminthisworld,norknewhowtoseekitinanother.
Atlast,hershotbeingallexpended,thechildstoodstillandgazedatHester,withthatlittlelaughingimageofafiendpeepingout—or,whetheritpeepedorno,hermothersoimaginedit—fromtheunsearchableabyssofherblackeyes.
Butwhileshesaidit,Pearllaughed,andbegantodanceupanddownwiththehumoursomegesticulationofalittleimp,whosenextfreakmightbetoflyupthechimney.
Nordidsheputthequestionaltogetheridly,but,forthemoment,withaportionofgenuineearnestness;for,suchwasPearl’swonderfulintelligence,thathermotherhalfdoubtedwhethershewerenotacquaintedwiththesecretspellofherexistence,andmightnotnowrevealherself.
saidthemotherhalfplayfully;foritwasoftenthecasethatasportiveimpulsecameoverherinthemidstofherdeepestsuffering.
“Tellme,mother!”saidthechild,seriously,cominguptoHester,andpressingherselfclosetoherknees.“Dothoutellme!”
Whethermovedonlybyherordinaryfreakishness,orbecauseanevilspiritpromptedher,sheputuphersmallforefingerandtouchedthescarletletter.
“Hush,Pearl,hush!Thoumustnottalkso!”answeredthemother.suppressingagroan.“Hesentusallintotheworld.Hesentevenme,thymother.Then,muchmorethee!
“Tellme!Tellme!”repeatedPearl,nolongerseriously,butlaughingandcaperingaboutthefloor.“Itisthouthatmusttellme!”
Sheremembered—betwixtasmileandashudder—thetalkoftheneighbouringtownspeople,who,seekingvainlyelsewhereforthechild’spaternity,andobservingsomeofheroddattributes,hadgivenoutthatpoorlittlePearlwasademonoffspring:suchas,eversinceoldCatholictimes,hadoccasionallybeenseenonearth,throughtheagencyoftheirmother’ssin,andtopromotesomefoulandwickedpurpose.
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