English
“Thouwillloveherdearly,”repeatedHesterPrynne,assheandtheministersatwatchinglittlePearl.“Dostthounotthinkherbeautiful?
Andseewithwhatnaturalskillshehasmadethosesimpleflowersadornher!
Hadshegatheredpearls,anddiamonds,andrubiesinthewood,theycouldnothavebecomeherbetter!Sheisasplendidchild!ButIknowwhosebrowshehas!”
“Dostthouknow,Hester,”saidArthurDimmesdale,withanunquietsmile,“thatthisdearchild,trippingaboutalwaysatthyside,hathcausedmemanyanalarm?
Methought—Oh,Hester,whatathoughtisthat,andhowterribletodreadit!
—Thatmyownfeatureswerepartlyrepeatedinherface,andsostrikinglythattheworldmightseethem!Butsheismostlythine!”
“No,no!Notmostly!”
answeredthemother,withatendersmile.
“Alittlelonger,andthouneedestnottobeafraidtotracewhosechildsheis.
Buthowstrangelybeautifulshelookswiththosewildflowersinherhair!
Itisasifoneofthefairies,whomweleftindearoldEngland,haddeckedherouttomeetus.”
Itwaswithafeelingwhichneitherofthemhadeverbeforeexperienced,thattheysatandwatchedPearl’sslowadvance.
Inherwasvisiblethetiethatunitedthem.
Shehadbeenofferedtotheworld,thesesevenpastyears,asthelivinghieroglyphic,inwhichwasrevealedthesecrettheysodarklysoughttohide—allwritteninthissymbol—allplainlymanifest—hadtherebeenaprophetormagicianskilledtoreadthecharacterofflame!
AndPearlwastheonenessoftheirbeing.
Betheforegoneevilwhatitmight,howcouldtheydoubtthattheirearthlylivesandfuturedestinieswereconjoinedwhentheybeheldatoncethematerialunion,andthespiritualidea,inwhomtheymet,andweretodwellimmortallytogether;thoughtslikethese—andperhapsotherthoughts,whichtheydidnotacknowledgeordefine—threwanaweaboutthechildasshecameonward.
“Letherseenothingstrange—nopassionoreagerness—inthywayofaccostingher,”whisperedHester.
“OurPearlisafitfulandfantasticlittleelfsometimes.
Especiallysheisgenerallyintolerantofemotion,whenshedoesnotfullycomprehendthewhyandwherefore.Butthechildhathstrongaffections!Shelovesme,andwilllovethee!”
“Thoucanstnotthink,”saidtheminister,glancingasideatHesterPrynne,“howmyheartdreadsthisinterview,andyearnsforit!
But,intruth,asIalreadytoldthee,childrenarenotreadilywontobefamiliarwithme.
Theywillnotclimbmyknee,norprattleinmyear,noranswertomysmile,butstandapart,andeyemestrangely.
Evenlittlebabes,whenItaketheminmyarms,weepbitterly.
YetPearl,twiceinherlittlelifetime,hathbeenkindtome!Thefirsttime—thouknowestitwell!
ThelastwaswhenthouledstherwiththeetothehouseofyondersternoldGovernor.”
“Andthoudidstpleadsobravelyinherbehalfandmine!”answeredthemother.
“Irememberit;andsoshalllittlePearl.Fearnothing.
Shemaybestrangeandshyatfirst,butwillsoonlearntolovethee!”
BythistimePearlhadreachedthemarginofthebrook,andstoodonthefurtherside,gazingsilentlyatHesterandtheclergyman,whostillsattogetheronthemossytree–trunkwaitingtoreceiveher.
Justwhereshehadpaused,thebrookchancedtoformapoolsosmoothandquietthatitreflectedaperfectimageofherlittlefigure,withallthebrilliantpicturesquenessofherbeauty,initsadornmentofflowersandwreathedfoliage,butmorerefinedandspiritualizedthanthereality.
Thisimage,sonearlyidenticalwiththelivingPearl,seemedtocommunicatesomewhatofitsownshadowyandintangiblequalitytothechildherself.
Itwasstrange,thewayinwhichPearlstood,lookingsosteadfastlyatthemthroughthedimmediumoftheforestgloom,herself,meanwhile,allglorifiedwitharayofsunshine,thatwasattractedthitherwardasbyacertainsympathy.
Inthebrookbeneathstoodanotherchild—anotherandthesame—withlikewiseitsrayofgoldenlight.
Hesterfeltherself,insomeindistinctandtantalizingmanner,estrangedfromPearl,asifthechild,inherlonelyramblethroughtheforest,hadstrayedoutofthesphereinwhichsheandhermotherdwelttogether,andwasnowvainlyseekingtoreturntoit.
Therewerebothtruthanderrorintheimpression;thechildandmotherwereestranged,butthroughHester’sfault,notPearl’s.
Sincethelatterrambledfromherside,anotherinmatehadbeenadmittedwithinthecircleofthemother’sfeelings,andsomodifiedtheaspectofthemall,thatPearl,thereturningwanderer,couldnotfindherwontedplace,andhardlyknewwhereshewas.
“Ihaveastrangefancy,”observedthesensitiveminister,“thatthisbrookistheboundarybetweentwoworlds,andthatthoucanstnevermeetthyPearlagain.
Orissheanelfishspirit,who,asthelegendsofourchildhoodtaughtus,isforbiddentocrossarunningstream?
Prayhastenher,forthisdelayhasalreadyimpartedatremortomynerves.”
“Come,dearestchild!”saidHesterencouragingly,andstretchingoutbothherarms.“Howslowthouart!
Whenhastthoubeensosluggishbeforenow?
Hereisafriendofmine,whomustbethyfriendalso.
Thouwilthavetwiceasmuchlovehenceforwardasthymotheralonecouldgivethee!Leapacrossthebrookandcometous.Thoucanstleaplikeayoungdeer!”
Pearl,withoutrespondinginanymannertothesehoney–sweetexpressions,remainedontheothersideofthebrook.
Nowshefixedherbrightwildeyesonhermother,nowontheminister,andnowincludedthembothinthesameglance,asiftodetectandexplaintoherselftherelationwhichtheyboretooneanother.
Forsomeunaccountablereason,asArthurDimmesdalefeltthechild’seyesuponhimself,hishand—withthatgesturesohabitualastohavebecomeinvoluntary—stoleoverhisheart.
Atlength,assumingasingularairofauthority,Pearlstretchedoutherhand,withthesmallforefingerextended,andpointingevidentlytowardshermother’sbreast.
Andbeneath,inthemirrorofthebrook,therewastheflower–girdledandsunnyimageoflittlePearl,pointinghersmallforefingertoo.
“Thoustrangechild!whydostthounotcometome?”exclaimedHester.
Pearlstillpointedwithherforefinger,andafrowngatheredonherbrow—themoreimpressivefromthechildish,thealmostbaby–likeaspectofthefeaturesthatconveyedit.
Ashermotherstillkeptbeckoningtoher,andarrayingherfaceinaholidaysuitofunaccustomedsmiles,thechildstampedherfootwithayetmoreimperiouslookandgesture.
Inthebrook,again,wasthefantasticbeautyoftheimage,withitsreflectedfrown,itspointedfinger,andimperiousgesture,givingemphasistotheaspectoflittlePearl.
“Hasten,Pearl,orIshallbeangrywiththee!”
criedHesterPrynne,who,however,inuredtosuchbehaviourontheelf–child’spartatotherseasons,wasnaturallyanxiousforamoreseemlydeportmentnow.
“Leapacrossthebrook,naughtychild,andrunhither!ElseImustcometothee!”
ButPearl,notawhitstartledathermother’sthreatsanymorethanmollifiedbyherentreaties,nowsuddenlyburstintoafitofpassion,gesticulatingviolently,andthrowinghersmallfigureintothemostextravagantcontortionsSheaccompaniedthiswildoutbreakwithpiercingshrieks,whichthewoodsreverberatedonallsides,sothat,aloneasshewasinherchildishandunreasonablewrath,itseemedasifahiddenmultitudewerelendinghertheirsympathyandencouragement.
SeeninthebrookoncemorewastheshadowywrathofPearl’simage,crownedandgirdledwithflowers,butstampingitsfoot,wildlygesticulating,and,inthemidstofall,stillpointingitssmallforefingeratHester’sbosom.
“Iseewhatailsthechild,”whisperedHestertotheclergyman,andturningpaleinspiteofastrongefforttoconcealhertroubleandannoyance,“Childrenwillnotabideany,theslightest,changeintheaccustomedaspectofthingsthataredailybeforetheireyes.
Pearlmissessomethingthatshehasalwaysseenmewear!”
“Iprayyou,”answeredtheminister,“ifthouhastanymeansofpacifyingthechild,doitforthwith!
SaveitwerethecankeredwrathofanoldwitchlikeMistressHibbins,”addedhe,attemptingtosmile,“IknownothingthatIwouldnotsoonerencounterthanthispassioninachild.
InPearl’syoungbeauty,asinthewrinkledwitch,ithasapreternaturaleffect.Pacifyherifthoulovestme!”
HesterturnedagaintowardsPearlwithacrimsonblushuponhercheek,aconsciousglanceasideclergyman,andthenaheavysigh,while,evenbeforeshehadtimetospeak,theblushyieldedtoadeadlypallor.
“Pearl,”saidshesadly,“lookdownatthyfeet!There!—beforethee!—onthehithersideofthebrook!”
Thechildturnedhereyestothepointindicated,andtherelaythescarletlettersocloseuponthemarginofthestreamthatthegoldembroiderywasreflectedinit.
“Bringithither!”saidHester.
“Comethouandtakeitup!”answeredPearl.
“Waseversuchachild!”observedHesterasidetotheminister.
“Oh,Ihavemuchtotelltheeabouther!
But,inverytruth,sheisrightasregardsthishatefultoken.
Imustbearitstortureyetalittlelonger—onlyafewdayslonger—untilweshallhaveleftthisregion,andlookbackhitherastoalandwhichwehavedreamedof.Theforestcannothideit!
Themid–oceanshalltakeitfrommyhand,andswallowitupforever!”
Withthesewordssheadvancedtothemarginofthebrook,tookupthescarletletter,andfasteneditagainintoherbosom.
Hopefully,butamomentago,asHesterhadspokenofdrowningitinthedeepsea,therewasasenseofinevitabledoomuponherasshethusreceivedbackthisdeadlysymbolfromthehandoffate.Shehadflungitintoinfinitespace!—Shehaddrawnanhour’sfreebreath!
—Andhereagainwasthescarletmiseryglitteringontheoldspot!
Soiteveris,whetherthustypifiedorno,thatanevildeedinvestsitselfwiththecharacterofdoom.
Hesternextgathereduptheheavytressesofherhairandconfinedthembeneathhercap.
Asiftherewereawitheringspellinthesadletter,herbeauty,thewarmthandrichnessofherwomanhood,departedlikefadingsunshine,andagrayshadowseemedtofallacrossher.
Whenthedrearychangewaswrought,sheextendedherhandtoPearl.
“Dostthouknowthymothernow,child?”,askedshe,reproachfully,butwithasubduedtone.
“Wiltthoucomeacrossthebrook,andownthymother,nowthatshehashershameuponher—nowthatsheissad?”
“Yes;nowIwill!”answeredthechild,boundingacrossthebrook,andclaspingHesterinherarms“Nowthouartmymotherindeed!andIamthylittlePearl!”
Inamoodoftendernessthatwasnotusualwithher,shedrewdownhermother’shead,andkissedherbrowandbothhercheeks.
Butthen—byakindofnecessitythatalwaysimpelledthischildtoalloywhatevercomfortshemightchancetogivewithathrobofanguish—Pearlputuphermouthandkissedthescarletletter,too
“Thatwasnotkind!”saidHester.“Whenthouhastshownmealittlelove,thoumockestme!”
“Whydoththeministersityonder?”askedPearl.
“Hewaitstowelcomethee,”repliedhermother.“Comethou,andentreathisblessing!Helovesthee,mylittlePearl,andlovesthymother,too.Wiltthounotlovehim?Come!Helongstogreetthee!”
“Dothheloveus?”saidPearl,lookingupwithacuteintelligenceintohermother’sface.“Willhegobackwithus,handinhand,wethreetogether,intothetown?”
“Notnow,mychild,”answeredHester.“Butindaystocomehewillwalkhandinhandwithus.
Wewillhaveahomeandfiresideofourown;andthoushaltsituponhisknee;andhewillteachtheemanythings,andlovetheedearly.Thouwiltlovehim—wiltthounot?”
“Andwillhealwayskeephishandoverhisheart?”inquiredPearl.
“Foolishchild,whataquestionisthat!”exclaimedhermother.“Come,andaskhisblessing!”
But,whetherinfluencedbythejealousythatseemsinstinctivewitheverypettedchildtowardsadangerousrival,orfromwhatevercapriceofherfreakishnature,Pearlwouldshownofavourtotheclergyman.
Itwasonlybyanexertionofforcethathermotherbroughtheruptohim,hangingback,andmanifestingherreluctancebyoddgrimaces;ofwhich,eversinceherbabyhood,shehadpossessedasingularvariety,andcouldtransformhermobilephysiognomyintoaseriesofdifferentaspects,withanewmischiefinthem,eachandall.
Theminister—painfullyembarrassed,buthopingthatakissmightproveatalismantoadmithimintothechild’skindlierregards—bentforward,andimpressedoneonherbrow.
Hereupon,Pearlbrokeawayfromhermother,and,runningtothebrook,stoopedoverit,andbathedherforehead,untiltheunwelcomekisswasquitewashedoffanddiffusedthroughalonglapseoftheglidingwater.
Shethenremainedapart,silentlywatchingHesterandtheclergyman;whiletheytalkedtogetherandmadesucharrangementsasweresuggestedbytheirnewpositionandthepurposessoontobefulfilled.
Andnowthisfatefulinterviewhadcometoaclose.
Thedellwastobeleftinsolitudeamongitsdark,oldtrees,which,withtheirmultitudinoustongues,wouldwhisperlongofwhathadpassedthere,andnomortalbethewiser.
Andthemelancholybrookwouldaddthisothertaletothemysterywithwhichitslittleheartwasalreadyoverburdened,andwhereofitstillkeptupamurmuringbabble,withnotawhitmorecheerfulnessoftonethanforagesheretofore.
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