English
GovernorBellingham,inaloosegownandeasycap—suchaselderlygentlemenlovedtoenduethemselveswith,intheirdomesticprivacy—walkedforemost,andappearedtobeshowingoffhisestate,andexpatiatingonhisprojectedimprovements.
Thewidecircumferenceofanelaborateruff,beneathhisgreybeard,intheantiquatedfashionofKingJames’sreign,causedhisheadtolooknotalittlelikethatofJohntheBaptistinacharger.
Theimpressionmadebyhisaspect,sorigidandsevere,andfrost–bittenwithmorethanautumnalage,washardlyinkeepingwiththeappliancesofworldlyenjoymentwherewithhehadevidentlydonehisutmosttosurroundhimself.
Butitisanerrortosupposethatourgreatforefathers—thoughaccustomedtospeakandthinkofhumanexistenceasastatemerelyoftrialandwarfare,andthoughunfeignedlypreparedtosacrificegoodsandlifeatthebehestofduty—madeitamatterofconsciencetorejectsuchmeansofcomfort,orevenluxury,aslayfairlywithintheirgrasp.
Thiscreedwasnevertaught,forinstance,bythevenerablepastor,JohnWilson,whosebeard,whiteasasnow–drift,wasseenoverGovernorBellingham’sshoulders,whileitswearersuggestedthatpearsandpeachesmightyetbenaturalizedintheNewEnglandclimate,andthatpurplegrapesmightpossiblybecompelledtoflourishagainstthesunnygarden–wall.
Theoldclergyman,nurturedattherichbosomoftheEnglishChurch,hadalongestablishedandlegitimatetasteforallgoodandcomfortablethings,andhoweversternhemightshowhimselfinthepulpit,orinhispublicreproofofsuchtransgressionsasthatofHesterPrynne,still,thegenialbenevolenceofhisprivatelifehadwonhimwarmeraffectionthanwasaccordedtoanyofhisprofessionalcontemporaries.
BehindtheGovernorandMr.Wilsoncametwootherguests—one,theReverendArthurDimmesdale,whomthereadermayrememberashavingtakenabriefandreluctantpartinthesceneofHesterPrynne’sdisgrace;and,inclosecompanionshipwithhim,oldRogerChillingworth,apersonofgreatskillinphysic,whofortwoorthreeyearspasthadbeensettledinthetown.
Itwasunderstoodthatthislearnedmanwasthephysicianaswellasfriendoftheyoungminister,whosehealthhadseverelysufferedoflatebyhistoounreservedself–sacrificetothelaboursanddutiesofthepastoralrelation.
TheGovernor,inadvanceofhisvisitors,ascendedoneortwosteps,and,throwingopentheleavesofthegreathallwindow,foundhimselfclosetolittlePearl.
TheshadowofthecurtainfellonHesterPrynne,andpartiallyconcealedher.
“Whathavewehere?”saidGovernorBellingham,lookingwithsurpriseatthescarletlittlefigurebeforehim.
“Iprofess,Ihaveneverseenthelikesincemydaysofvanity,inoldKingJames’stime,whenIwaswonttoesteemitahighfavourtobeadmittedtoacourtmask!
Thereusedtobeaswarmofthesesmallapparitionsinholidaytime,andwecalledthemchildrenoftheLordofMisrule.Buthowgatsuchaguestintomyhall?”
“Ay,indeed!”criedgoodoldMr.Wilson.
“Whatlittlebirdofscarletplumagemaythisbe?
MethinksIhaveseenjustsuchfigureswhenthesunhasbeenshiningthrougharichlypaintedwindow,andtracingoutthegoldenandcrimsonimagesacrossthefloor.Butthatwasintheoldland.
Prithee,youngone,whoartthou,andwhathasailedthymothertobedizentheeinthisstrangefashion?ArtthouaChristianchild—ha?Dostknowthycatechism?
Orartthouoneofthosenaughtyelfsorfairieswhomwethoughttohaveleftbehindus,withotherrelicsofPapistry,inmerryoldEngland?”
“Iammother’schild,”answeredthescarletvision,“andmynameisPearl!”
“Pearl?—Ruby,rather—OrCoral!
—OrRedRose,attheveryleast,judgingfromthyhue!”
respondedtheoldminister,puttingforthhishandinavainattempttopatlittlePearlonthecheek.“Butwhereisthismotherofthine?Ah!
Isee,”headded;and,turningtoGovernorBellingham,whispered,“Thisistheselfsamechildofwhomwehaveheldspeechtogether;andbeholdheretheunhappywoman,HesterPrynne,hermother!”
“Sayestthouso?”criedtheGovernor.
“Nay,wemighthavejudgedthatsuchachild’smothermustneedsbeascarletwoman,andaworthytypeofherofBabylon!
Butshecomesatagoodtime,andwewilllookintothismatterforthwith.”
GovernorBellinghamsteppedthroughthewindowintothehall,followedbyhisthreeguests.
“HesterPrynne,”saidhe,fixinghisnaturallysternregardonthewearerofthescarletletter,“therehathbeenmuchquestionconcerningtheeoflate.
Thepointhathbeenweightilydiscussed,whetherwe,thatareofauthorityandinfluence,dowelldischargeourconsciencesbytrustinganimmortalsoul,suchasthereisinyonderchild,totheguidanceofonewhohathstumbledandfallenamidthepitfallsofthisworld.Speakthou,thechild’sownmother!
Wereitnot,thinkestthou,forthylittleone’stemporalandeternalwelfarethatshebetakenoutofthycharge,andcladsoberly,anddisciplinedstrictly,andinstructedinthetruthsofheavenandearth?
Whatcanstthoudoforthechildinthiskind?”
“IcanteachmylittlePearlwhatIhavelearnedfromthis!”answeredHesterPrynne,layingherfingerontheredtoken.
“Woman,itisthybadgeofshame!”repliedthesternmagistrate.“Itisbecauseofthestainwhichthatletterindicatesthatwewouldtransferthychildtootherhands.”
“Nevertheless,”saidthemother,calmly,thoughgrowingmorepale,“thisbadgehathtaughtme—itdailyteachesme—itisteachingmeatthismoment—lessonswhereofmychildmaybethewiserandbetter,albeittheycanprofitnothingtomyself.”
“Wewilljudgewarily,”saidBellingham,“andlookwellwhatweareabouttodo.
GoodMasterWilson,Iprayyou,examinethisPearl—sincethatishername—andseewhethershehathhadsuchChristiannurtureasbefitsachildofherage.”
Theoldministerseatedhimselfinanarm–chairandmadeanefforttodrawPearlbetwixthisknees.
Butthechild,unaccustomedtothetouchorfamiliarityofanybuthermother,escapedthroughtheopenwindow,andstoodontheupperstep,lookinglikeawildtropicalbirdofrichplumage,readytotakeflightintotheupperair.
Mr.Wilson,notalittleastonishedatthisoutbreak—forhewasagrandfatherlysortofpersonage,andusuallyavastfavouritewithchildren—essayed,however,toproceedwiththeexamination.
“Pearl,”saidhe,withgreatsolemnity,“thoumusttakeheedtoinstruction,thatso,indueseason,thoumayestwearinthybosomthepearlofgreatprice.
Canstthoutellme,mychild,whomadethee?”
NowPearlknewwellenoughwhomadeher,forHesterPrynne,thedaughterofapioushome,verysoonafterhertalkwiththechildaboutherHeavenlyFather,hadbeguntoinformherofthosetruthswhichthehumanspirit,atwhateverstageofimmaturity,imbibeswithsucheagerinterest.
Pearl,therefore—solargeweretheattainmentsofherthreeyears’lifetime—couldhaveborneafairexaminationintheNewEnglandPrimer,orthefirstcolumnoftheWestminsterCatechisms,althoughunacquaintedwiththeoutwardformofeitherofthosecelebratedworks.
Butthatperversity,whichallchildrenhavemoreorlessof,andofwhichlittlePearlhadatenfoldportion,now,atthemostinopportunemoment,tookthoroughpossessionofher,andclosedherlips,orimpelledhertospeakwordsamiss.
Afterputtingherfingerinhermouth,withmanyungraciousrefusalstoanswergoodMr.Wilson’squestion,thechildfinallyannouncedthatshehadnotbeenmadeatall,buthadbeenpluckedbyhermotheroffthebushofwildrosesthatgrewbytheprison–door.
ThisphantasywasprobablysuggestedbythenearproximityoftheGovernor’sredroses,asPearlstoodoutsideofthewindow,togetherwithherrecollectionoftheprisonrose–bush,whichshehadpassedincominghither.
OldRogerChillingworth,withasmileonhisface,whisperedsomethingintheyoungclergyman’sear.
HesterPrynnelookedatthemanofskill,andeventhen,withherfatehanginginthebalance,wasstartledtoperceivewhatachangehadcomeoverhisfeatures—howmuchugliertheywere—howhisdarkcomplexionseemedtohavegrownduskier,andhisfiguremoremisshapen—sincethedayswhenshehadfamiliarlyknownhim.
Shemethiseyesforaninstant,butwasimmediatelyconstrainedtogiveallherattentiontothescenenowgoingforward.
“Thisisawful!”criedtheGovernor,slowlyrecoveringfromtheastonishmentintowhichPearl’sresponsehadthrownhim.
“Hereisachildofthreeyearsold,andshecannottellwhomadeher!
Withoutquestion,sheisequallyinthedarkastohersoul,itspresentdepravity,andfuturedestiny!
Methinks,gentlemen,weneedinquirenofurther.”
HestercaughtholdofPearl,anddrewherforciblyintoherarms,confrontingtheoldPuritanmagistratewithalmostafierceexpression.
Aloneintheworld,castoffbyit,andwiththissoletreasuretokeepherheartalive,shefeltthatshepossessedindefeasiblerightsagainsttheworld,andwasreadytodefendthemtothedeath.
“Godgavemethechild!”criedshe.
“Hegaveherinrequitalofallthingselsewhichyehadtakenfromme.Sheismyhappiness!—Sheismytorture,nonetheless!Pearlkeepsmehereinlife!Pearlpunishesme,too!
Seeyenot,sheisthescarletletter,onlycapableofbeingloved,andsoendowedwithamillionfoldthepowerofretributionformysin?Yeshallnottakeher!Iwilldiefirst!”
“Mypoorwoman,”saidthenotunkindoldminister,“thechildshallbewellcaredfor!—Farbetterthanthoucanstdoforit.”
“Godgaveherintomykeeping!”repeatedHesterPrynne,raisinghervoicealmosttoashriek.“Iwillnotgiveherup!”
—Andherebyasuddenimpulse,sheturnedtotheyoungclergyman,Mr.Dimmesdale,atwhom,uptothismoment,shehadseemedhardlysomuchasoncetodirecthereyes.—“Speakthouforme!”criedshe.
“Thouwastmypastor,andhadstchargeofmysoul,andknowestmebetterthanthesemencan.Iwillnotlosethechild!Speakforme!
Thouknowest—forthouhastsympathieswhichthesemenlack—thouknowestwhatisinmyheart,andwhatareamother’srights,andhowmuchthestrongertheyarewhenthatmotherhasbutherchildandthescarletletter!Lookthoutoit!Iwillnotlosethechild!Looktoit!”
Atthiswildandsingularappeal,whichindicatedthatHesterPrynne’ssituationhadprovokedhertolittlelessthanmadness,theyoungministeratoncecameforward,pale,andholdinghishandoverhisheart,aswashiscustomwheneverhispeculiarlynervoustemperamentwasthrownintoagitation.
HelookednowmorecarewornandemaciatedthanaswedescribedhimatthesceneofHester’spublicignominy;andwhetheritwerehisfailinghealth,orwhateverthecausemightbe,hislargedarkeyeshadaworldofpainintheirtroubledandmelancholydepth.
“Thereistruthinwhatshesays,”begantheminister,withavoicesweet,tremulous,butpowerful,insomuchthatthehallre–echoedandthehollowarmourrangwithit—“truthinwhatHestersays,andinthefeelingwhichinspiresher!
Godgaveherthechild,andgaveher,too,aninstinctiveknowledgeofitsnatureandrequirements—bothseeminglysopeculiar—whichnoothermortalbeingcanpossess.
And,moreover,istherenotaqualityofawfulsacrednessintherelationbetweenthismotherandthischild?”
“Ay—howisthat,goodMasterDimmesdale?”interruptedtheGovernor.“Makethatplain,Iprayyou!”
“Itmustbeevenso,”resumedtheminister.
“For,ifwedeemitotherwise,dowenotherebysaythattheHeavenlyFather,thecreatorofallflesh,hathlightlyrecognizedadeedofsin,andmadeofnoaccountthedistinctionbetweenunhallowedlustandholylove?
Thischildofitsfather’sguiltanditsmother’sshamehascomefromthehandofGod,toworkinmanywaysuponherheart,whopleadssoearnestlyandwithsuchbitternessofspirittherighttokeepher.
Itwasmeantforablessing—fortheoneblessingofherlife!
Itwasmeant,doubtless,themotherherselfhathtoldus,foraretribution,too;atorturetobefeltatmanyanunthought–ofmoment;apang,asting,anever–recurringagony,inthemidstofatroubledjoy!
Hathshenotexpressedthisthoughtinthegarbofthepoorchild,soforciblyremindingusofthatredsymbolwhichsearsherbosom?”
“Wellsaidagain!”criedgoodMr.Wilson.“Ifearedthewomanhadnobetterthoughtthantomakeamountebankofherchild!”
“Oh,notso!—notso!”continuedMr.Dimmesdale.
“Sherecognises,believeme,thesolemnmiraclewhichGodhathwroughtintheexistenceofthatchild.
Andmayshefeel,too—what,methinks,istheverytruth—thatthisboonwasmeant,aboveallthingselse,tokeepthemother’ssoulalive,andtopreserveherfromblackerdepthsofsinintowhichSatanmightelsehavesoughttoplungeher!
Thereforeitisgoodforthispoor,sinfulwoman,thatshehathaninfantimmortality,abeingcapableofeternaljoyorsorrow,confidedtohercare—tobetrainedupbyhertorighteousness,toremindher,ateverymoment,ofherfall,butyettoteachher,asifitwerebytheCreator’ssacredpledge,that,ifshebringthechildtoheaven,thechildalsowillbringitsparentsthither!
Hereinisthesinfulmotherhappierthanthesinfulfather.
ForHesterPrynne’ssake,then,andnolessforthepoorchild’ssake,letusleavethemasProvidencehathseenfittoplacethem!”
“Youspeak,myfriend,withastrangeearnestness,”saidoldRogerChillingworth,smilingathim.
“Andthereisaweightyimportinwhatmyyoungbrotherhathspoken,”addedtheRev.Mr.Wilson.
“Whatsayyou,worshipfulMasterBellingham?Hathhenotpleadedwellforthepoorwoman?”
“Indeedhathhe,”answeredthemagistrate;“andhathadducedsucharguments,thatwewillevenleavethematterasitnowstands;solong,atleast,asthereshallbenofurtherscandalinthewoman.
Caremustbehadnevertheless,toputthechildtodueandstatedexaminationinthecatechism,atthyhandsorMasterDimmesdale’s.
Moreover,ataproperseason,thetithing–menmusttakeheedthatshegobothtoschoolandtomeeting.”
Theyoungminister,onceasingtospeakhadwithdrawnafewstepsfromthegroup,andstoodwithhisfacepartiallyconcealedintheheavyfoldsofthewindow–curtain;whiletheshadowofhisfigure,whichthesunlightcastuponthefloor,wastremulouswiththevehemenceofhisappeal.
Pearl,thatwildandflightylittleelfstolesoftlytowardshim,andtakinghishandinthegraspofbothherown,laidhercheekagainstit;acaresssotender,andwithalsounobtrusive,thathermother,whowaslookingon,askedherself—“IsthatmyPearl?”
Yetsheknewthattherewasloveinthechild’sheart,althoughitmostlyrevealeditselfinpassion,andhardlytwiceinherlifetimehadbeensoftenedbysuchgentlenessasnow.
Theminister—for,savethelong–soughtregardsofwoman,nothingissweeterthanthesemarksofchildishpreference,accordedspontaneouslybyaspiritualinstinct,andthereforeseemingtoimplyinussomethingtrulyworthytobeloved—theministerlookedround,laidhishandonthechild’shead,hesitatedaninstant,andthenkissedherbrow.
LittlePearl’sunwontedmoodofsentimentlastednolonger;shelaughed,andwentcaperingdownthehallsoairily,thatoldMr.Wilsonraisedaquestionwhetherevenhertiptoestouchedthefloor.
“Thelittlebaggagehathwitchcraftinher,Iprofess,”saidhetoMr.Dimmesdale.“Sheneedsnooldwoman’sbroomsticktoflywithal!”
“Astrangechild!”remarkedoldRogerChillingworth.
“Itiseasytoseethemother’spartinher.
Woulditbebeyondaphilosopher’sresearch,thinkye,gentlemen,toanalyzethatchild’snature,and,fromitmakeamould,togiveashrewdguessatthefather?”
“Nay;itwouldbesinful,insuchaquestion,tofollowtheclueofprofanephilosophy,”saidMr.Wilson.
“Bettertofastandprayuponit;andstillbetter,itmaybe,toleavethemysteryaswefindit,unlessProvidencerevealitofitsownaccordThereby,everygoodChristianmanhathatitletoshowafather’skindnesstowardsthepoor,desertedbabe.”
Theaffairbeingsosatisfactorilyconcluded,HesterPrynne,withPearl,departedfromthehouse.
Astheydescendedthesteps,itisaverredthatthelatticeofachamber–windowwasthrownopen,andforthintothesunnydaywasthrustthefaceofMistressHibbins,GovernorBellingham’sbitter–temperedsister,andthesamewho,afewyearslater,wasexecutedasawitch.
“Hist,hist!”saidshe,whileherill–omenedphysiognomyseemedtocastashadowoverthecheerfulnewnessofthehouse.“Wiltthougowithusto–night?
Therewillbeamerrycompanyintheforest;andIwell–nighpromisedtheBlackManthatcomelyHesterPrynneshouldmakeone.”
“Makemyexcusetohim,sopleaseyou!”answeredHester,withatriumphantsmile.
“Imusttarryathome,andkeepwatchovermylittlePearl.
Hadtheytakenherfromme,Iwouldwillinglyhavegonewiththeeintotheforest,andsignedmynameintheBlackMan’sbooktoo,andthatwithmineownblood!”
“Weshallhavetheethereanon!”saidthewitch–lady,frowning,asshedrewbackherhead.
Buthere—ifwesupposethisinterviewbetwixtMistressHibbinsandHesterPrynnetobeauthentic,andnotaparable—wasalreadyanillustrationoftheyoungminister’sargumentagainstsunderingtherelationofafallenmothertotheoffspringofherfrailty.
EventhusearlyhadthechildsavedherfromSatan’ssnare.
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