Itdenotedtheadvanceoftheprocessionofmagistratesandcitizensonitswaytowardsthemeeting–house:where,incompliancewithacustomthusearlyestablished,andeversinceobserved,theReverendMr.DimmesdalewastodeliveranElectionSermon.
Soontheheadoftheprocessionshoweditself,withaslowandstatelymarch,turningacorner,andmakingitswayacrossthemarket–place.Firstcamethemusic.
Itcomprisedavarietyofinstruments,perhapsimperfectlyadaptedtooneanother,andplayedwithnogreatskill;butyetattainingthegreatobjectforwhichtheharmonyofdrumandclarionaddressesitselftothemultitude—thatofimpartingahigherandmoreheroicairtothesceneoflifethatpassesbeforetheeye.
LittlePearlatfirstclappedherhands,butthenlostforaninstanttherestlessagitationthathadkeptherinacontinualeffervescencethroughoutthemorning;shegazedsilently,andseemedtobeborneupwardlikeafloatingsea–birdonthelongheavesandswellsofsound.
Butshewasbroughtbacktoherformermoodbytheshimmerofthesunshineontheweaponsandbrightarmourofthemilitarycompany,whichfollowedafterthemusic,andformedthehonoraryescortoftheprocession.
Thisbodyofsoldiery—whichstillsustainsacorporateexistence,andmarchesdownfrompastageswithanancientandhonourablefame—wascomposedofnomercenarymaterials.
Itsrankswerefilledwithgentlemenwhofeltthestirringsofmartialimpulse,andsoughttoestablishakindofCollegeofArms,where,asinanassociationofKnightsTemplars,theymightlearnthescience,and,sofaraspeacefulexercisewouldteachthem,thepracticesofwar.
Thehighestimationthenplaceduponthemilitarycharactermightbeseenintheloftyportofeachindividualmemberofthecompany.
Someofthem,indeed,bytheirservicesintheLowCountriesandonotherfieldsofEuropeanwarfare,hadfairlywontheirtitletoassumethenameandpompofsoldiership.
Theentirearray,moreover,cladinburnishedsteel,andwithplumagenoddingovertheirbrightmorions,hadabrilliancyofeffectwhichnomoderndisplaycanaspiretoequal.
Andyetthemenofcivileminence,whocameimmediatelybehindthemilitaryescort,werebetterworthathoughtfulobserver’seye.
Eveninoutwarddemeanourtheyshowedastampofmajestythatmadethewarrior’shaughtystridelookvulgar,ifnotabsurd.
Itwasanagewhenwhatwecalltalenthadfarlessconsiderationthannow,butthemassivematerialswhichproducestabilityanddignityofcharacteragreatdealmore.
Thepeoplepossessedbyhereditaryrightthequalityofreverence,which,intheirdescendants,ifitsurviveatall,existsinsmallerproportion,andwithavastlydiminishedforceintheselectionandestimateofpublicmen.
InthatolddaytheEnglishsettlerontheserudeshores—havingleftking,nobles,andalldegreesofawfulrankbehind,whilestillthefacultyandnecessityofreverencewasstronginhim—bestoweditonthewhitehairandvenerablebrowofage—onlong–triedintegrity—onsolidwisdomandsad–colouredexperience—onendowmentsofthatgraveandweightyorderwhichgavetheideaofpermanence,andcomesunderthegeneraldefinitionofrespectability.
Theseprimitivestatesmen,therefore—Bradstreet,Endicott,Dudley,Bellingham,andtheircompeers—whowereelevatedtopowerbytheearlychoiceofthepeople,seemtohavebeennotoftenbrilliant,butdistinguishedbyaponderoussobriety,ratherthanactivityofintellect.
Theyhadfortitudeandself–reliance,andintimeofdifficultyorperilstoodupforthewelfareofthestatelikealineofcliffsagainstatempestuoustide.
Thetraitsofcharacterhereindicatedwerewellrepresentedinthesquarecastofcountenanceandlargephysicaldevelopmentofthenewcolonialmagistrates.
Sofarasademeanourofnaturalauthoritywasconcerned,themothercountryneednothavebeenashamedtoseetheseforemostmenofanactualdemocracyadoptedintotheHouseofPeers,ormakethePrivyCounciloftheSovereign.
Nextinordertothemagistratescametheyoungandeminentlydistinguisheddivine,fromwhoselipsthereligiousdiscourseoftheanniversarywasexpected.
Hiswastheprofessionatthaterainwhichintellectualabilitydisplayeditselffarmorethaninpoliticallife;for—leavingahighermotiveoutofthequestionitofferedinducementspowerfulenoughinthealmostworshippingrespectofthecommunity,towinthemostaspiringambitionintoitsservice.
Itwastheobservationofthosewhobeheldhimnow,thatnever,sinceMr.DimmesdalefirstsethisfootontheNewEnglandshore,hadheexhibitedsuchenergyaswasseeninthegaitandairwithwhichhekepthispaceintheprocession.
Itmightbetheexhilarationofthatpotentcordialwhichisdistilledonlyinthefurnace–glowofearnestandlong–continuedthought.
Orperchancehissensitivetemperamentwasinvigoratedbytheloudandpiercingmusicthatswelledheaven–ward,andupliftedhimonitsascendingwave.
Faranddeepinitsownregion,busyingitself,withpreternaturalactivity,tomarshalaprocessionofstatelythoughtsthatweresoontoissuethence;andsohesawnothing,heardnothing,knewnothingofwhatwasaroundhim;butthespiritualelementtookupthefeebleframeandcarrieditalong,unconsciousoftheburden,andconvertingittospiritlikeitself.
Menofuncommonintellect,whohavegrownmorbid,possessthisoccasionalpowerofmightyeffort,intowhichtheythrowthelifeofmanydaysandthenarelifelessforasmanymore.
HesterPrynne,gazingsteadfastlyattheclergyman,feltadrearyinfluencecomeoverher,butwhereforeorwhencesheknewnot,unlessthatheseemedsoremotefromherownsphere,andutterlybeyondherreach.
Shethoughtofthedimforest,withitslittledellofsolitude,andlove,andanguish,andthemossytree–trunk,where,sittinghand–in–hand,theyhadmingledtheirsadandpassionatetalkwiththemelancholymurmurofthebrook.
He,movingproudlypast,envelopedasitwere,intherichmusic,withtheprocessionofmajesticandvenerablefathers;he,sounattainableinhisworldlyposition,andstillmoresointhatfarvistaofhisunsympathizingthoughts,throughwhichshenowbeheldhim!
Herspiritsankwiththeideathatallmusthavebeenadelusion,andthat,vividlyasshehaddreamedit,therecouldbenorealbondbetwixttheclergymanandherself.
AndthusmuchofwomanwasthereinHester,thatshecouldscarcelyforgivehim—leastofallnow,whentheheavyfootstepoftheirapproachingFatemightbeheard,nearer,nearer,nearer!
—Forbeingablesocompletelytowithdrawhimselffromtheirmutualworld—whileshegropeddarkly,andstretchedforthhercoldhands,andfoundhimnot.
Pearleithersawandrespondedtohermother’sfeelings,orherselffelttheremotenessandintangibilitythathadfallenaroundtheminister.
“Holdthypeace,dearlittlePearl!”whisperedhermother.“Wemustnotalwaystalkinthemarketplaceofwhathappenstousintheforest.”
“ElseIwouldhaveruntohim,andbidhimkissmenow,beforeallthepeople,evenashedidyonderamongthedarkoldtrees.
“Whatshouldhesay,Pearl,”answeredHester,“savethatitwasnotimetokiss,andthatkissesarenottobegiveninthemarket–place?
Anothershadeofthesamesentiment,inreferencetoMr.Dimmesdale,wasexpressedbyapersonwhoseeccentricities—insanity,asweshouldtermit—ledhertodowhatfewofthetownspeoplewouldhaveventuredon—tobeginaconversationwiththewearerofthescarletletterinpublic.
ItwasMistressHibbins,who,arrayedingreatmagnificence,withatripleruff,abroideredstomacher,agownofrichvelvet,andagold–headedcane,hadcomeforthtoseetheprocession.
Asthisancientladyhadtherenown(whichsubsequentlycosthernolessapricethanherlife)ofbeingaprincipalactorinalltheworksofnecromancythatwerecontinuallygoingforward,thecrowdgavewaybeforeher,andseemedtofearthetouchofhergarment,asifitcarriedtheplagueamongitsgorgeousfolds.
SeeninconjunctionwithHesterPrynne—kindlyassomanynowfelttowardsthelatter—thedreadinspiredbyMistressHibbinshaddoubled,andcausedageneralmovementfromthatpartofthemarket–placeinwhichthetwowomenstood.
Who,now,thatsawhimpassintheprocession,wouldthinkhowlittlewhileitissincehewentforthoutofhisstudy—chewingaHebrewtextofScriptureinhismouth,Iwarrant—totakeanairingintheforest!Aha!Weknowwhatthatmeans,HesterPrynne!
ManyachurchmembersawI,walkingbehindthemusic,thathasdancedinthesamemeasurewithme,whenSomebodywasfiddler,and,itmightbe,anIndianpowwoworaLaplandwizardchanginghandswithus!
“Madam,Iknownotofwhatyouspeak,”answeredHesterPrynne,feelingMistressHibbinstobeofinfirmmind;yetstrangelystartledandawe–strickenbytheconfidencewithwhichsheaffirmedapersonalconnexionbetweensomanypersons(herselfamongthem)andtheEvilOne.
WhentheBlackManseesoneofhisownservants,signedandsealed,soshyofowningtothebondasistheReverendMr.Dimmesdale,hehathawayoforderingmatterssothatthemarkshallbedisclosed,inopendaylight,totheeyesofalltheworld!
Bythistimethepreliminaryprayerhadbeenofferedinthemeeting–house,andtheaccentsoftheReverendMr.Dimmesdalewereheardcommencinghisdiscourse.
Asthesacrededificewastoomuchthrongedtoadmitanotherauditor,shetookupherpositionclosebesidethescaffoldofthepillory.
Itwasinsufficientproximitytobringthewholesermontoherears,intheshapeofanindistinctbutvariedmurmurandflowoftheminister’sverypeculiarvoice.
Thisvocalorganwasinitselfarichendowment,insomuchthatalistener,comprehendingnothingofthelanguageinwhichthepreacherspoke,mightstillhavebeenswayedtoandfrobythemeretoneandcadence.
Likeallothermusic,itbreathedpassionandpathos,andemotionshighortender,inatonguenativetothehumanheart,wherevereducated.
Muffledasthesoundwasbyitspassagethroughthechurchwalls,HesterPrynnelistenedwithsuchintenseness,andsympathizedsointimately,thatthesermonhadthroughoutameaningforher,entirelyapartfromitsindistinguishablewords.
These,perhaps,ifmoredistinctlyheard,mighthavebeenonlyagrossermedium,andhavecloggedthespiritualsense.
Nowshecaughtthelowundertone,asofthewindsinkingdowntoreposeitself;thenascendedwithit,asitrosethroughprogressivegradationsofsweetnessandpower,untilitsvolumeseemedtoenvelopherwithanatmosphereofaweandsolemngrandeur.
Aloudorlowexpressionofanguish—thewhisper,ortheshriek,asitmightbeconceived,ofsufferinghumanity,thattouchedasensibilityineverybosom!
Butevenwhentheminister’svoicegrewhighandcommanding—whenitgushedirrepressiblyupward—whenitassumeditsutmostbreadthandpower,sooverfillingthechurchastoburstitswaythroughthesolidwalls,anddiffuseitselfintheopenair—still,iftheauditorlistenedintently,andforthepurpose,hecoulddetectthesamecryofpain.Whatwasit?
Thecomplaintofahumanheart,sorrow–laden,perchanceguilty,tellingitssecret,whetherofguiltorsorrow,tothegreatheartofmankind;beseechingitssympathyorforgiveness,—ateverymoment,—ineachaccent,—andneverinvain!
Iftheminister’svoicehadnotkeptherthere,therewould,nevertheless,havebeenaninevitablemagnetisminthatspot,whenceshedatedthefirsthourofherlifeofignominy.
Therewasasensewithinher—tooill–definedtobemadeathought,butweighingheavilyonhermind—thatherwholeorboflife,bothbeforeandafter,wasconnectedwiththisspot,aswiththeonepointthatgaveitunity.
Shemadethesombrecrowdcheerfulbyhererraticandglisteningray,evenasabirdofbrightplumageilluminatesawholetreeofduskyfoliagebydartingtoandfro,halfseenandhalfconcealedamidthetwilightoftheclusteringleaves.
Itindicatedtherestlessvivacityofherspirit,whichto–daywasdoublyindefatigableinitstip–toedance,becauseitwasplayeduponandvibratedwithhermother’sdisquietude.
WheneverPearlsawanythingtoexcitehereveractiveandwanderingcuriosity,sheflewthitherward,and,aswemightsay,seizeduponthatmanorthingasherownproperty,sofarasshedesiredit,butwithoutyieldingtheminutestdegreeofcontroloverhermotionsinrequital.
ThePuritanslookedon,and,iftheysmiled,werenonethelessinclinedtopronouncethechildademonoffspring,fromtheindescribablecharmofbeautyandeccentricitythatshonethroughherlittlefigure,andsparkledwithitsactivity.
Thence,withnativeaudacity,butstillwithareserveascharacteristic,sheflewintothemidstofagroupofmariners,theswarthy–cheekedwildmenoftheocean,astheIndianswereoftheland;andtheygazedwonderinglyandadmiringlyatPearl,asifaflakeofthesea–foamhadtakentheshapeofalittlemaid,andweregiftedwithasoulofthesea–fire,thatflashesbeneaththeprowinthenight–time.
Oneoftheseseafaringmen—theshipmaster,indeed,whohadspokentoHesterPrynne—wassosmittenwithPearl’saspect,thatheattemptedtolayhandsuponher,withpurposetosnatchakiss.
Findingitasimpossibletotouchherastocatchahumming–birdintheair,hetookfromhishatthegoldchainthatwastwistedaboutit,andthrewittothechild.
Pearlimmediatelytwineditaroundherneckandwaistwithsuchhappyskill,that,onceseenthere,itbecameapartofher,anditwasdifficulttoimagineherwithoutit.
“Thentellher,”rejoinedhe,“thatIspakeagainwiththeblack–a–visaged,humpshoulderedolddoctor,andheengagestobringhisfriend,thegentlemanshewotsof,aboardwithhim.
“MistressHibbinssaysmyfatheristhePrinceoftheAir!”criedPearl,withanaughtysmile.“Ifthoucallestmethatill–name,Ishalltellhimofthee,andhewillchasethyshipwithatempest!”
Pursuingazigzagcourseacrossthemarketplace,thechildreturnedtohermother,andcommunicatedwhatthemarinerhadsaid.
Hester’sstrong,calmsteadfastly–enduringspiritalmostsank,atlast,onbeholdingthisdarkandgrimcountenanceofaninevitabledoom—whichatthemomentwhenapassageseemedtoopenfortheministerandherselfoutoftheirlabyrinthofmisery—showeditselfwithanunrelentingsmile,rightinthemidstoftheirpath.
Withhermindharassedbytheterribleperplexityinwhichtheshipmaster’sintelligenceinvolvedher,shewasalsosubjectedtoanothertrial.
Thereweremanypeoplepresentfromthecountryroundabout,whohadoftenheardofthescarletletter,andtowhomithadbeenmadeterrificbyahundredfalseorexaggeratedrumours,butwhohadneverbehelditwiththeirownbodilyeyes.
These,afterexhaustingothermodesofamusement,nowthrongedaboutHesterPrynnewithrudeandboorishintrusiveness.
Atthatdistancetheyaccordinglystood,fixedtherebythecentrifugalforceoftherepugnancewhichthemysticsymbolinspired.
Thewholegangofsailors,likewise,observingthepressofspectators,andlearningthepurportofthescarletletter,cameandthrusttheirsunburntanddesperado–lookingfacesintothering.
EventheIndianswereaffectedbyasortofcoldshadowofthewhiteman’scuriosityand,glidingthroughthecrowd,fastenedtheirsnake–likeblackeyesonHester’sbosom,conceiving,perhaps,thatthewearerofthisbrilliantlyembroideredbadgemustneedsbeapersonageofhighdignityamongherpeople.
Lastly,theinhabitantsofthetown(theirowninterestinthisworn–outsubjectlanguidlyrevivingitself,bysympathywithwhattheysawothersfeel)loungedidlytothesamequarter,andtormentedHesterPrynne,perhapsmorethanalltherest,withtheircool,well–acquaintedgazeatherfamiliarshame.
Hestersawandrecognizedtheselfsamefacesofthatgroupofmatrons,whohadawaitedherforthcomingfromtheprison–doorsevenyearsago;allsaveone,theyoungestandonlycompassionateamongthem,whoseburial–robeshehadsincemade.
Atthefinalhour,whenshewassosoontoflingasidetheburningletter,ithadstrangelybecomethecentreofmoreremarkandexcitement,andwasthusmadetosearherbreastmorepainfully,thanatanytimesincethefirstdaysheputiton.
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