波波小说

第29部分（第1页）

ice　him；　thatevery　wholesome　growth　should　be　converted　into　somethingdeleterious　and　malignant　at　his　touch？　Did　the　sun；　which　shone　sobrightly　everywhere　else；　really　fall　upon　him？　Or　was　there；　as　itrather　seemed；　a　circle　of　ominous　shadow　moving　along　with　hisdeformity；　whichever　way　he　turned　himself？　And　whither　was　he　nowgoing？　Would　he　not　suddenly　sink　into　the　earth；　leaving　a　barren　andblasted　spot；　where；　in　due　course　of　time；　would　be　seen　deadlynightshade；　dogwood；　henbane；　and　whatever　else　of　vegetablewickedness　the　climate　could　produce；　all　flourishing　with　hideousluxuriance？　Or　would　he　spread　bats　wings　and　flee　away；　looking　somuch　the　uglier；　the　higher　he　rose　towards　heaven？　　〃Be　it　sin　or　no；〃　said　Hester　Prynne　bitterly；　as　she　still　gazedafter　him；　〃I　hate　the　man！〃　　She　upbraided　herself　for　the　sentiment；　but　could　not　overe　orlessen　it。　Attempting　to　do　so；　she　thought　of　those　long…past　days；in　a　distant　land；　when　he　used　to　emerge　at　eventide　from　theseclusion　of　his　study；　and　sit　down　in　the　firelight　of　their　home；and　in　the　light　of　her　nuptial　smile。　He　needed　to　bask　himself　inthat　smile；　he　said；　in　order　that　the　chill　of　so　many　lonely　hoursamong　his　books　might　be　taken　off　the　scholars　heart。　Such　sceneshad　once　appeared　not　otherwise　than　happy；　but　now；　as　viewed　throughthe　dismal　medium　of　her　subsequent　life；　they　classed　themselvesamong　her　ugliest　remembrances。　She　marvelled　how　such　scenes　couldhave　been！　She　marvelled　how　she　could　ever　have　been　wrought　uponto　marry　him！　She　deemed　it　her　crime　most　to　be　repented　of；　that　shehad　ever　endured；　and　reciprocated；　the　lukewarm　grasp　of　his　hand；and　had　suffered　the　smile　of　her　lips　and　eyes　to　mingle　and　meltinto　his　own。　And　it　seemed　a　fouler　offence　mitted　by　RogerChillingworth；　than　any　which　had　since　been　done　him；　that；　in　thetime　when　her　heart　knew　no　better；　he　had　persuaded　her　to　fancyherself　happy　by　his　side。　　〃Yes；　I　hate　him！〃　repeated　Hester；　more　bitterly　than　before。　〃Hebetrayed　me！　He　has　done　me　worse　wrong　than　I　did　him！〃　　Let　men　tremble　to　win　the　hand　of　woman；　unless　they　win　along　withit　the　utmost　passion　of　her　heart！　Else　it　may　be　their　miserablefortune；　as　it　was　Roger　Chillingworths；　when　some　mightier　touchthan　their　own　may　have　awakened　all　her　sensibilities；　to　bereproached　even　for　the　calm　content；　the　marble　image　of　happiness；which　they　will　have　imposed　upon　her　as　the　warm　reality。　ButHester　ought　long　ago　to　have　done　with　this　injustice。　What　did　itbetoken？　Had　seven　long　years；　under　the　torture　of　the　scarletletter；　inflicted　so　much　of　misery；　and　wrought　out　no　repentance？　　The　emotions　of　that　brief　space；　while　she　stood　gazing　after　thecrooked　figure　of　old　Roger　Chillingworth；　threw　a　dark　light　onHesters　state　of　mind；　revealing　much　that　she　might　not　otherwisehave　acknowledged　to　herself。　　He　being　gone；　she　summoned　back　her　child。　　〃Pearl！　Little　Pearl！　Where　are　you？〃　　Pearl；　whose　activity　of　spirit　never　flagged；　had　been　at　no　lossfor　amusement　while　her　mother　talked　with　the　old　gatherer　ofherbs。　At　first；　as　already　told；　she　had　flirted　fancifully　withher　own　image　in　a　pool　of　water；　beckoning　the　phantom　forth；　and…　asit　declined　to　venture…　seeking　a　passage　for　herself　into　itssphere　of　impalpable　earth　and　unattainable　sky。　Soon　finding；however；　that　either　she　or　the　image　was　unreal；　she　turned　elsewherefor　better　pastime。　She　made　little　boats　out　of　birch…bark；　andfreighted　them　with　snail…shells；　and　sent　out　more　ventures　on　themighty　deep　than　any　merchant　in　New　England；　but　the　larger　part　ofthem　foundered　near　the　shore。　She　seized　a　live　horse…shoe　by　thetail；　and　made　prize　of　several　five…fingers；　and　laid　out　ajelly…fish　to　melt　in　the　warm　sun。　Then　she　took　up　the　white　foam；that　streaked　the　line　of　the　advancing　tide；　and　threw　it　upon　thebreeze；　scampering　after　it；　with　winged　footsteps；　to　catch　the　greatsnowflakes　ere　they　fell。　Perceiving　a　flock　of　beach…birds；　thatfed　and　fluttered　along　the　shore；　the　naughty　child　picked　up　herapron　full　of　pebbles；　and；　creeping　from　rock　to　rock　after　thesesmall　sea…fowl；　displayed　remarkable　dexterity　in　pelting　them。　Onelittle　grey　bird；　with　a　white　breast；　Pearl　was　almost　sure；　had　beenhit　by　a　pebble；　and　fluttered　away　with　a　broken　wing。　But　then　theelf…child　sighed；　and　gave　up　her　sport；　because　it　grieved　her　tohave　done　harm　to　a　little　being　that　was　as　wild　as　the　sea…breeze；or　as　wild　as　Pearl　herself。　　Her　final　employment　was　to　gather　sea…weed；　of　various　kinds；　andmake　herself　a　scarf；　or　mantle；　and　a　head…dress；　and　thus　assume　theaspect　of　a　little　mermaid。　She　inherited　her　mothers　gift　fordevising　drapery　and　costume。　As　the　last　touch　to　her　mermaid　garb；Pearl　took　some　eel…grass；　and　imitated；　as　best　she　could；　on　her　ownbosom；　the　decoration　with　which　she　was　so　familiar　on　hermothers。　A　letter…　the　letter　A…　but　freshly　green；　instead　ofscarlet！　The　child　bent　her　chin　upon　her　breast；　and　contemplatedthis　device　with　strange　interest；　even　as　if　the　one　only　thing　forwhich　she　had　been　sent　into　the　world　was　to　make　out　its　hiddenimport。　　〃I　wonder　if　mother　will　ask　me　what　it　means？〃　thought　Pearl。　　Just　then；　she　heard　her　mothers　voice；　and　flitting　along　aslightly　as　one　of　the　little　sea…birds；　appeared　before　Hester　Prynne；dancing；　laughing；　and　pointing　her　finger　to　the　ornament　upon　herbosom。　　〃My　little　Pearl；〃　said　Hester；　after　a　moments　silence；　〃the　greenletter；　and　on　thy　childish　bosom；　has　no　purport。　But　dost　thou　know；my　child；　what　this　letter　means　which　thy　mother　is　doomed　to　wear？〃　　〃Yes；　mother；〃　said　the　child。　〃It　is　the　great　letter　A。　Thouhast　taught　me　in　the　horn…book。〃　　Hester　looked　steadily　into　her　little　face；　but；　though　there　wasthat　singular　expression　which　she　had　so　often　remarked　in　herblack　eyes；　she　could　not　satisfy　herself　whether　Pearl　reallyattached　any　meaning　to　the　symbol。　She　felt　a　morbid　desire　toascertain　the　point。　　〃Dost　thou　know；　child；　wherefore　thy　mother　wears　this　letter？〃　　〃Truly　do　I！〃　answered　Pearl；　looking　brightly　into　her　mothersface。　〃It　is　for　the　same　reason　that　the　minister　keeps　his　hand　overhis　heart！〃　　〃And　what　reason　is　that？〃　asked　Hester；　half　smiling　at　theabsurd　incongruity　of　the　childs　observation；　but；　on　secondthoughts；　turning　pale。　〃What　has　the　letter　to　do　with　any　heart；save　mine？〃　　〃Nay；　mother；　I　have　told　all　I　know；〃　said　Pearl；　more　seriouslythan　she　was　wont　to　speak。　〃Ask　yonder　old　man　whom　thou　hast　beentalking　with！　It　may　be　he　can　tell。　But　in　good　earnest　now；　motherdear；　what　does　this　scarlet　letter　mean？…　and　why　dost　thou　wear　iton　thy　bosom？…　and　why　does　the　minister　keep　his　hand　over　hisheart？〃　　She　took　her　mothers　hand　in　both　her　own；　and　gazed　into　hereyes　with　an　earnestness　that　was　seldom　seen　in　her　wild　andcapricious　character。　The　thought　occurred　to　Hester；　that　the　childmight　really　be　seeking　to　approach　her　with　childlike　confidence；　anddoing　what　she　could；　and　as　intelligently　as　she　knew　how；　toestablish　a　meeting…point　of　sympathy。　It　showed　Pearl　in　anunwonted　aspect。　Heretofore；　the　mother；　while　loving　her　child　withthe　intensity　of　a　soul　affection；　had　schooled　herself　to　hope　forlittle　other　return　than　the　waywardness　of　an　April　breeze；　whichspends　its　time　in　airy　sport；　and　has　its　gusts　of　inexplicablepassion；　and　is　petulant　in　its　best　of　moods；　and　chills　oftener　thancaresses　you；　when　you　take　it　to　your　bosom；　in　requital　of　whichmisdemeanours；　it　will　sometimes；　of　its　own　vague　purpose；　kissyour　cheek　with　a　kind　of　doubtful　tenderness；　and　play　gently　withyour　hair；　and　then　be　gone　about　its　other　idle　business；　leaving　adreamy　pleasure　at　your　heart。　And　this；　moreover；　was　a　mothersestimate　of　the　childs　disposition。　Any　other　observer　might　haveseen　few　but　unamiable　traits；　and　have　given　them　a　far　darkercolouring。　But　now　the　idea　came　strongly　into　Hesters　mind；　thatPearl；　with　her　remarkable　precocity　and　acuteness；　might　already　haveapproached　the　age　when　she　could　be　made　a　friend；　and　entrusted　withas　much　of　her　mothers　sorrows　as　could　be　imparted；　withoutirreverence　either　to　the　parent　or　the　child。　In　the　little　chaosof　Pearls　character；　there　might　be　seen　emerging…　and　could　havebeen；　from　the　very　first…　the　steadfast　principles　of　anunflinching　courage…　an　uncontrollable　will…　a　sturdy　pride；　whichmight　be　disciplined　into　self…respect…　and　a　bitter　scorn　of　manythings；　which；　when　examined；　might　be　found　to　have　the　taint　offalsehood　in　them。　She　possessed　affections；　too；　though　hithertoacrid　and　disagreeable；　as　are　the　richest　flavours　of　unripe　fruit。With　all　these　sterling　attributes；　thought　Hester；　the　evil　which　sheinherited　from　her　mother　must　be　great　indeed；　if　a　noble　woman　donot　grow　out　of　this　elfish　child。　　Pearls　inevitable　tendency　to　hover　about　the　enigma　of　the　scarletletter　seemed　an　innate　quality　of　her　being。　From　the　earliestepoch　of　her　conscious　life；　she　had　entered　upon　this　as　herappointed　mission。　Hester　had　often　fancied　that　Providence　had　adesign　of　justice　and　retribution；　in　endowing　the　child　with　thismarked　propensity；　but　never；　until　now；　had　she　bethought　herselfto　ask；　whether；　linked　with　that　design；　there　might　not　likewisebe　a　purpose　of　mercy　and　beneficence。　If　little　Pearl　wereentertained　with　faith　and　trust；　as　a　spirit　messenger　no　less　thanan　earthly　child；　might　it　not　be　her　errand　to　soothe　away　the　sorrowthat　lay　cold　in　her　mothers　heart；　and　converted　it　into　a　tomb？…and　to　help　her　to　overe　the　passion；　once　so　wild；　and　even　yetneither　dead　nor　asleep；　but　only　imprisoned　within　the　same　tomb…likeheart？　　Such　were　some　of　the　thoughts　that　now　stirred　in　Hesters　mind；with　as　much　vivacity　of　impression　as　if　they　had　actually　beenwhispered　into　her　ear。　And　there　was　little　Pearl；　all　this　while；holding　her　mothers　hand　in　both　her　own；　and　turning　her　faceupward；　while　she　put　these　searching　questions；　once；　and　again；and　still　a　third　time。　　〃What　does　the　letter　mean；　mother？…　and　why　dost　thou　wear　it？…　andwhy　does　the　minister　keep　his　hand　over　his　heart？〃　　〃What　shall　I　say？〃　thought　Hester　to　herself。　〃No！　If　this　be　theprice　of　the　childs　sympathy；　I　cannot　pay　it。〃　　Then　she　spoke　aloud。　　〃Silly　Pearl；〃　said　she；　〃what　questions　are　these？　There　are　manythings　in　this　world　that　a　child　must　not　ask　about。　What　know　I　ofthe　ministers　heart？　And　as　for　the　scarlet　letter；　I　wear　it　for　thesake　of　its　gold　thread。〃　　In　all　the　seven　bygone　years；　Hester　Prynne　had　never　before　beenfalse　to　the　symbol　on　her　bosom。　It　may　be　that　it　was　the　talismanof　a　stern　and　severe；　but　yet　a　guardian　spirit；　who　now　forsook　her；as　recognising　that；　in　spite　of　his　strict　watch　over　her　heart；　somenew　evil　had　crept　into　it；　or　some　old　one　had　never　been　expelled。As　for　little　Pearl；　the　earnestness　soon　passed　out　of　her　face。　　But　the　child　did　not　see　fit　to　let　the　matter　drop。　Two　or　threetimes；　as　her　mother　and　she　went　homeward；　and　as　often　atsuppertime；　and　while　Hester　was　putting　her　to　bed；　and　once　aftershe　seemed　to　be　fairly　asleep；　Pearl　looked　up；　with　mischiefgleaming　in　her　black　eyes。　　〃Mother；〃　said　she

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