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Astheministerdeparted,inadvanceofHesterPrynneandlittlePearl,hethrewabackwardglance,halfexpectingthatheshoulddiscoveronlysomefaintlytracedfeaturesoroutlineofthemotherandthechild,slowlyfadingintothetwilightofthewoods.
Sogreatavicissitudeinhislifecouldnotatoncebereceivedasreal.
ButtherewasHester,cladinhergrayrobe,stillstandingbesidethetree–trunk,whichsomeblasthadoverthrownalongantiquityago,andwhichtimehadeversincebeencoveringwithmoss,sothatthesetwofatedones,withearth’sheaviestburdenonthem,mighttheresitdowntogether,andfindasinglehour’srestandsolace.
AndtherewasPearl,too,lightlydancingfromthemarginofthebrook—nowthattheintrusivethirdpersonwasgone—andtakingheroldplacebyhermother’sside.
Sotheministerhadnotfallenasleepanddreamed!
Inordertofreehismindfromthisindistinctnessandduplicityofimpression,whichvexeditwithastrangedisquietude,herecalledandmorethoroughlydefinedtheplanswhichHesterandhimselfhadsketchedfortheirdeparture.
IthadbeendeterminedbetweenthemthattheOldWorld,withitscrowdsandcities,offeredthemamoreeligibleshelterandconcealmentthanthewildsofNewEnglandorallAmerica,withitsalternativesofanIndianwigwam,orthefewsettlementsofEuropeansscatteredthinlyalongthesea–board.
Nottospeakoftheclergyman’shealth,soinadequatetosustainthehardshipsofaforestlife,hisnativegifts,hisculture,andhisentiredevelopmentwouldsecurehimahomeonlyinthemidstofcivilizationandrefinement;thehigherthestatethemoredelicatelyadaptedtoittheman.
Infutheranceofthischoice,itsohappenedthatashiplayintheharbour;oneofthoseunquestionablecruisers,frequentatthatday,which,withoutbeingabsolutelyoutlawsofthedeep,yetroamedoveritssurfacewitharemarkableirresponsibilityofcharacter.
ThisvesselhadrecentlyarrivedfromtheSpanishMain,andwithinthreedays’timewouldsailforBristol.
HesterPrynne—whosevocation,asaself–enlistedSisterofCharity,hadbroughtheracquaintedwiththecaptainandcrew—couldtakeuponherselftosecurethepassageoftwoindividualsandachildwithallthesecrecywhichcircumstancesrenderedmorethandesirable.
TheministerhadinquiredofHester,withnolittleinterest,theprecisetimeatwhichthevesselmightbeexpectedtodepart.
Itwouldprobablybeonthefourthdayfromthepresent.“Thisismostfortunate!”hehadthensaidtohimself.
Now,whytheReverendMr.Dimmesdaleconsidereditsoveryfortunatewehesitatetoreveal.
Nevertheless—toholdnothingbackfromthereader—itwasbecause,onthethirddayfromthepresent,hewastopreachtheElectionSermon;and,assuchanoccasionformedanhonourableepochinthelifeofaNewEnglandClergyman,hecouldnothavechanceduponamoresuitablemodeandtimeofterminatinghisprofessionalcareer.
“Atleast,theyshallsayofme,”thoughtthisexemplaryman,“thatIleavenopublicdutyunperformedorill–performed!”
Sad,indeed,thatanintrospectionsoprofoundandacuteasthispoorminister’sshouldbesomiserablydeceived!
Wehavehad,andmaystillhave,worsethingstotellofhim;butnone,weapprehend,sopitiablyweak;noevidence,atoncesoslightandirrefragable,ofasubtlediseasethathadlongsincebeguntoeatintotherealsubstanceofhischaracter.
Noman,foranyconsiderableperiod,canwearonefacetohimselfandanothertothemultitude,withoutfinallygettingbewilderedastowhichmaybethetrue.
TheexcitementofMr.Dimmesdale’sfeelingsashereturnedfromhisinterviewwithHester,lenthimunaccustomedphysicalenergy,andhurriedhimtownwardatarapidpace.
Thepathwayamongthewoodsseemedwilder,moreuncouthwithitsrudenaturalobstacles,andlesstroddenbythefootofman,thanheremembereditonhisoutwardjourney.
Butheleapedacrosstheplashyplaces,thrusthimselfthroughtheclingingunderbush,climbedtheascent,plungedintothehollow,andovercame,inshort,allthedifficultiesofthetrack,withanunweariableactivitythatastonishedhim.
Hecouldnotbutrecallhowfeebly,andwithwhatfrequentpausesforbreathhehadtoiledoverthesameground,onlytwodaysbefore.
Ashedrewnearthetown,hetookanimpressionofchangefromtheseriesoffamiliarobjectsthatpresentedthemselves.
Itseemednotyesterday,notone,nottwo,butmanydays,orevenyearsago,sincehehadquittedthem.
There,indeed,waseachformertraceofthestreet,asherememberedit,andallthepeculiaritiesofthehouses,withtheduemultitudeofgable–peaks,andaweather–cockateverypointwherehismemorysuggestedone.
Nottheless,however,camethisimportunatelyobtrusivesenseofchange.
Thesamewastrueasregardedtheacquaintanceswhomhemet,andallthewell–knownshapesofhumanlife,aboutthelittletown.
Theylookedneitheroldernoryoungernow;thebeardsoftheagedwerenowhiter,norcouldthecreepingbabeofyesterdaywalkonhisfeetto–day;itwasimpossibletodescribeinwhatrespecttheydifferedfromtheindividualsonwhomhehadsorecentlybestowedapartingglance;andyettheminister’sdeepestsenseseemedtoinformhimoftheirmutability.
Asimilarimpressionstruckhimmostremarkablyahepassedunderthewallsofhisownchurch.
Theedificehadsoverystrange,andyetsofamiliaranaspect,thatMr.Dimmesdale’smindvibratedbetweentwoideas;eitherthathehadseenitonlyinadreamhitherto,orthathewasmerelydreamingaboutitnow.
Thisphenomenon,inthevariousshapeswhichitassumed,indicatednoexternalchange,butsosuddenandimportantachangeinthespectatorofthefamiliarscene,thattheinterveningspaceofasingledayhadoperatedonhisconsciousnesslikethelapseofyears.
Theminister’sownwill,andHester’swill,andthefatethatgrewbetweenthem,hadwroughtthistransformation.
Itwasthesametownasheretofore,butthesameministerreturnednotfromtheforest.
Hemighthavesaidtothefriendswhogreetedhim—“Iamnotthemanforwhomyoutakeme!
Ilefthimyonderintheforest,withdrawnintoasecretdell,byamossytreetrunk,andnearamelancholybrook!
Go,seekyourminister,andseeifhisemaciatedfigure,histhincheek,hiswhite,heavy,pain–wrinkledbrow,benotflungdownthere,likeacast–offgarment!”
Hisfriends,nodoubt,wouldstillhaveinsistedwithhim—“Thouartthyselftheman!”
—buttheerrorwouldhavebeentheirown,nothis.
BeforeMr.Dimmesdalereachedhome,hisinnermangavehimotherevidencesofarevolutioninthesphereofthoughtandfeeling.
Intruth,nothingshortofatotalchangeofdynastyandmoralcode,inthatinteriorkingdom,wasadequatetoaccountfortheimpulsesnowcommunicatedtotheunfortunateandstartledminister.
Ateverystephewasincitedtodosomestrange,wild,wickedthingorother,withasensethatitwouldbeatonceinvoluntaryandintentional,inspiteofhimself,yetgrowingoutofaprofounderselfthanthatwhichopposedtheimpulse.
Forinstance,hemetoneofhisowndeacons.
Thegoodoldmanaddressedhimwiththepaternalaffectionandpatriarchalprivilegewhichhisvenerableage,hisuprightandholycharacter,andhisstationinthechurch,entitledhimtouseand,conjoinedwiththis,thedeep,almostworshippingrespect,whichtheminister’sprofessionalandprivateclaimsalikedemanded.
Neverwasthereamorebeautifulexampleofhowthemajestyofageandwisdommaycomportwiththeobeisanceandrespectenjoineduponit,asfromalowersocialrank,andinferiororderofendowment,towardsahigher.
Now,duringaconversationofsometwoorthreemomentsbetweentheReverendMr.Dimmesdaleandthisexcellentandhoary–beardeddeacon,itwasonlybythemostcarefulself–controlthattheformercouldrefrainfromutteringcertainblasphemoussuggestionsthatroseintohismind,respectingthecommunion–supper.
Heabsolutelytrembledandturnedpaleasashes,lesthistongueshouldwagitselfinutteranceofthesehorriblematters,andpleadhisownconsentforsodoing,withouthishavingfairlygivenit.
And,evenwiththisterrorinhisheart,hecouldhardlyavoidlaughing,toimaginehowthesanctifiedoldpatriarchaldeaconwouldhavebeenpetrifiedbyhisminister’simpiety.
Again,anotherincidentofthesamenature.
Hurryingalongthestreet,theReverendMr.Dimmesdaleencounteredtheeldestfemalememberofhischurch,amostpiousandexemplaryolddame,poor,widowed,lonely,andwithaheartasfullofreminiscencesaboutherdeadhusbandandchildren,andherdeadfriendsoflongago,asaburial–groundisfullofstoriedgravestones.
Yetallthis,whichwouldelsehavebeensuchheavysorrow,wasmadealmostasolemnjoytoherdevoutoldsoul,byreligiousconsolationsandthetruthsofScripture,wherewithshehadfedherselfcontinuallyformorethanthirtyyears.
AndsinceMr.Dimmesdalehadtakenherincharge,thegoodgrandam’schiefearthlycomfort—which,unlessithadbeenlikewiseaheavenlycomfort,couldhavebeennoneatall—wastomeetherpastor,whethercasually,orofsetpurpose,andberefreshedwithawordofwarm,fragrant,heaven–breathingGospeltruth,fromhisbelovedlips,intoherdulled,butrapturouslyattentiveear.
But,onthisoccasion,uptothemomentofputtinghislipstotheoldwoman’sear,Mr.Dimmesdale,asthegreatenemyofsoulswouldhaveit,couldrecallnotextofScripture,noraughtelse,exceptabrief,pithy,and,asitthenappearedtohim,unanswerableargumentagainsttheimmortalityofthehumansoul.
Theinstilmentthereofintohermindwouldprobablyhavecausedthisagedsistertodropdowndead,atonce,asbytheeffectofanintenselypoisonousinfusion.
Whathereallydidwhisper,theministercouldneverafterwardsrecollect.
Therewas,perhaps,afortunatedisorderinhisutterance,whichfailedtoimpartanydistinctideatothegoodwidowscomprehension,orwhichProvidenceinterpretedafteramethodofitsown.
Assuredly,astheministerlookedback,hebeheldanexpressionofdivinegratitudeandecstasythatseemedliketheshineofthecelestialcityonherface,sowrinkledandashypale.
Again,athirdinstance.Afterpartingfromtheoldchurchmember,hemettheyoungestsisterofthemall.
Itwasamaidennewly–won—andwonbytheReverendMr.Dimmesdale’sownsermon,ontheSabbathafterhisvigil—tobarterthetransitorypleasuresoftheworldfortheheavenlyhopethatwastoassumebrightersubstanceaslifegrewdarkaroundher,andwhichwouldgildtheuttergloomwithfinalglory.
ShewasfairandpureasalilythathadbloomedinParadise.
Theministerknewwellthathewashimselfenshrinedwithinthestainlesssanctityofherheart,whichhungitssnowycurtainsabouthisimage,impartingtoreligionthewarmthoflove,andtoloveareligiouspurity.
Satan,thatafternoon,hadsurelyledthepooryounggirlawayfromhermother’sside,andthrownherintothepathwayofthissorelytempted,or—shallwenotrathersay?—Thislostanddesperateman.
Asshedrewnigh,thearch–fiendwhisperedhimtocondenseintosmallcompass,anddropintohertenderbosomagermofevilthatwouldbesuretoblossomdarklysoon,andbearblackfruitbetimes.
Suchwashissenseofpoweroverthisvirginsoul,trustinghimasshedid,thattheministerfeltpotenttoblightallthefieldofinnocencewithbutonewickedlook,anddevelopallitsoppositewithbutaword.
So—withamightierstrugglethanhehadyetsustained—heheldhisGenevacloakbeforehisface,andhurriedonward,makingnosignofrecognition,andleavingtheyoungsistertodigesthisrudenessasshemight.
Sheransackedherconscience—whichwasfullofharmlesslittlematters,likeherpocketorherwork–bag—andtookherselftotask,poorthing!
Forathousandimaginaryfaults,andwentaboutherhouseholddutieswithswolleneyelidsthenextmorning.
Beforetheministerhadtimetocelebratehisvictoryoverthislasttemptation,hewasconsciousofanotherimpulse,moreludicrous,andalmostashorrible.
Itwas—weblushtotellit—itwastostopshortintheroad,andteachsomeverywickedwordstoaknotoflittlePuritanchildrenwhowereplayingthere,andhadbutjustbeguntotalk.
Denyinghimselfthisfreak,asunworthyofhiscloth,hemetadrunkenseaman,oneoftheship’screwfromtheSpanishMain.
Andhere,sincehehadsovaliantlyforborneallotherwickedness,poorMr.Dimmesdalelongedatleasttoshakehandswiththetarryblack–guard,andrecreatehimselfwithafewimproperjests,suchasdissolutesailorssoaboundwith,andavolleyofgood,round,solid,satisfactory,andheaven–defyingoaths!
Itwasnotsomuchabetterprinciple,aspartlyhisnaturalgoodtaste,andstillmorehisbuckramedhabitofclericaldecorum,thatcarriedhimsafelythroughthelattercrisis.
“Whatisitthathauntsandtemptsmethus?”criedtheministertohimself,atlength,pausinginthestreet,andstrikinghishandagainsthisforehead.
“AmImad?OramIgivenoverutterlytothefiend?
DidImakeacontractwithhimintheforest,andsignitwithmyblood?
Anddoeshenowsummonmetoitsfulfilment,bysuggestingtheperformanceofeverywickednesswhichhismostfoulimaginationcanconceive?”
AtthemomentwhentheReverendMr.Dimmesdalethuscommunedwithhimself,andstruckhisforeheadwithhishand,oldMistressHibbins,thereputedwitch–lady,issaidtohavebeenpassingby.
Shemadeaverygrandappearance,havingonahighhead–dress,arichgownofvelvet,andaruffdoneupwiththefamousyellowstarch,ofwhichAnneTurner,herespecialfriend,hadtaughtherthesecret,beforethislastgoodladyhadbeenhangedforSirThomasOverbury’smurder.
Whetherthewitchhadreadtheminister’sthoughtsorno,shecametoafullstop,lookedshrewdlyintohisface,smiledcraftily,and—thoughlittlegiventoconversewithclergymen—beganaconversation.
“So,reverendsir,youhavemadeavisitintotheforest,”observedthewitch–lady,noddingherhighhead–dressathim.
“ThenexttimeIprayyoutoallowmeonlyafairwarning,andIshallbeproudtobearyoucompany.
Withouttakingovermuchuponmyselfmygoodwordwillgofartowardsgaininganystrangegentlemanafairreceptionfromyonderpotentateyouwotof.”
“Iprofess,madam,”answeredtheclergyman,withagraveobeisance,suchasthelady’srankdemanded,andhisowngoodbreedingmadeimperative—“Iprofess,onmyconscienceandcharacter,thatIamutterlybewilderedastouchingthepurportofyourwords!
Iwentnotintotheforesttoseekapotentate,neitherdoI,atanyfuturetime,designavisitthither,withaviewtogainingthefavourofsuchpersonage.
Myonesufficientobjectwastogreetthatpiousfriendofmine,theApostleEliot,andrejoicewithhimoverthemanyprecioussoulshehathwonfromheathendom!”
“Ha,ha,ha!”cackledtheoldwitch–lady,stillnoddingherhighhead–dressattheminister.“Well,well!wemustneedstalkthusinthedaytime!Youcarryitofflikeanoldhand!
Butatmidnight,andintheforest,weshallhaveothertalktogether!”
Shepassedonwithheragedstateliness,butoftenturningbackherheadandsmilingathim,likeonewillingtorecognizeasecretintimacyofconnexion.
“HaveIthensoldmyself,”thoughttheminister,“tothefiendwhom,ifmensaytrue,thisyellow–starchedandvelvetedoldhaghaschosenforherprinceandmaster?”
Thewretchedminister!Hehadmadeabargainverylikeit!
Temptedbyadreamofhappiness,hehadyieldedhimselfwithdeliberatechoice,ashehadneverdonebefore,towhatheknewwasdeadlysin.
Andtheinfectiouspoisonofthatsinhadbeenthusrapidlydiffusedthroughouthismoralsystem.
Ithadstupefiedallblessedimpulses,andawakenedintovividlifethewholebrotherhoodofbadones.
Scorn,bitterness,unprovokedmalignity,gratuitousdesireofill,ridiculeofwhateverwasgoodandholy,allawoketotempt,evenwhiletheyfrightenedhim.
AndhisencounterwitholdMistressHibbins,ifitwerearealincident,didbutshowitssympathyandfellowshipwithwickedmortals,andtheworldofpervertedspirits.
Hehadbythistimereachedhisdwellingontheedgeoftheburialground,and,hasteningupthestairs,tookrefugeinhisstudy.
Theministerwasgladtohavereachedthisshelter,withoutfirstbetrayinghimselftotheworldbyanyofthosestrangeandwickedeccentricitiestowhichhehadbeencontinuallyimpelledwhilepassingthroughthestreets.
Heenteredtheaccustomedroom,andlookedaroundhimonitsbooks,itswindows,itsfireplace,andthetapestriedcomfortofthewalls,withthesameperceptionofstrangenessthathadhauntedhimthroughouthiswalkfromtheforestdellintothetownandthitherward.
Herehehadstudiedandwritten;heregonethroughfastandvigil,andcomeforthhalfalive;herestriventopray;hereborneahundredthousandagonies!
TherewastheBible,initsricholdHebrew,withMosesandtheProphetsspeakingtohim,andGod’svoicethroughall.
Thereonthetable,withtheinkypenbesideit,wasanunfinishedsermon,withasentencebrokeninthemidst,wherehisthoughtshadceasedtogushoutuponthepagetwodaysbefore.
Heknewthatitwashimself,thethinandwhite–cheekedminister,whohaddoneandsufferedthesethings,andwrittenthusfarintotheElectionSermon!
Butheseemedtostandapart,andeyethisformerselfwithscornfulpitying,buthalf–enviouscuriosity.Thatselfwasgone.
Anothermanhadreturnedoutoftheforest—awiserone—withaknowledgeofhiddenmysterieswhichthesimplicityoftheformernevercouldhavereached.Abitterkindofknowledgethat!
Whileoccupiedwiththesereflections,aknockcameatthedoorofthestudy,andtheministersaid,“Comein!”
—notwhollydevoidofanideathathemightbeholdanevilspirit.Andsohedid!
ItwasoldRogerChillingworththatentered.
Theministerstoodwhiteandspeechless,withonehandontheHebrewScriptures,andtheotherspreaduponhisbreast.
“Welcomehome,reverendsir,”saidthephysician“Andhowfoundyouthatgodlyman,theApostleEliot?
Butmethinks,dearsir,youlookpale,asifthetravelthroughthewildernesshadbeentoosoreforyou.
WillnotmyaidberequisitetoputyouinheartandstrengthtopreachyourElectionSermon?”
“Nay,Ithinknotso,”rejoinedtheReverendMr.Dimmesdale.
“Myjourney,andthesightoftheholyApostleyonder,andthefreeairwhichIhavebreathedhavedonemegood,aftersolongconfinementinmystudy.
Ithinktoneednomoreofyourdrugs,mykindphysician,goodthoughtheybe,andadministeredbyafriendlyhand.”
AllthistimeRogerChillingworthwaslookingattheministerwiththegraveandintentregardofaphysiciantowardshispatient.
But,inspiteofthisoutwardshow,thelatterwasalmostconvincedoftheoldman’sknowledge,or,atleast,hisconfidentsuspicion,withrespecttohisowninterviewwithHesterPrynne.
Thephysicianknewthenthatintheminister’sregardhewasnolongeratrustedfriend,buthisbitterestenemy.
Somuchbeingknown,itwouldappearnaturalthatapartofitshouldheexpressed.
Itissingular,however,howlongatimeoftenpassesbeforewordsembodythings;andwithwhatsecuritytwopersons,whochoosetoavoidacertainsubject,mayapproachitsveryverge,andretirewithoutdisturbingit.
ThustheministerfeltnoapprehensionthatRogerChillingworthwouldtouch,inexpresswords,upontherealpositionwhichtheysustainedtowardsoneanother.
Yetdidthephysician,inhisdarkway,creepfrightfullynearthesecret.
“Wereitnotbetter,”saidhe,“thatyouusemypoorskilltonight?
Verily,dearsir,wemusttakepainstomakeyoustrongandvigorousforthisoccasionoftheElectiondiscourse.
Thepeoplelookforgreatthingsfromyou,apprehendingthatanotheryearmaycomeaboutandfindtheirpastorgone.”
“Yes,toanotherworld,”repliedtheministerwithpiousresignation.
“Heavengrantitbeabetterone;for,ingoodsooth,Ihardlythinktotarrywithmyflockthroughtheflittingseasonsofanotheryear!
Buttouchingyourmedicine,kindsir,inmypresentframeofbodyIneeditnot.”
“Ijoytohearit,”answeredthephysician.
“Itmaybethatmyremedies,solongadministeredinvain,beginnowtotakedueeffect.
HappymanwereI,andwelldeservingofNewEngland’sgratitude,couldIachievethiscure!”
“Ithankyoufrommyheart,mostwatchfulfriend,”saidtheReverendMr.Dimmesdalewithasolemnsmile.“Ithankyou,andcanbutrequiteyourgooddeedswithmyprayers.”
“Agoodman’sprayersaregoldenrecompense!”rejoinedoldRogerChillingworth,ashetookhisleave.“Yea,theyarethecurrentgoldcoinoftheNewJerusalem,withtheKing’sownmintmarkonthem!”
Leftalone,theministersummonedaservantofthehouse,andrequestedfood,which,beingsetbeforehim,heatewithravenousappetite.
ThenflingingthealreadywrittenpagesoftheElectionSermonintothefire,heforthwithbegananother,whichhewrotewithsuchanimpulsiveflowofthoughtandemotion,thathefanciedhimselfinspired;andonlywonderedthatHeavenshouldseefittotransmitthegrandandsolemnmusicofitsoraclesthroughsofoulanorganpipeashe.
However,leavingthatmysterytosolveitself,orgounsolvedforever,hedrovehistaskonwardwithearnesthasteandecstasy.
Thusthenightfledaway,asifitwereawingedsteed,andhecareeringonit;morningcame,andpeeped,blushing,throughthecurtains;andatlastsunrisethrewagoldenbeamintothestudy,andlaiditrightacrosstheminister’sbedazzledeyes.
Therehewas,withthepenstillbetweenhisfingers,andavast,immeasurabletractofwrittenspacebehindhim!
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