Livingsocontinuallyinherowncircleofideas，andnever
　　regulatinghermindbyaproperreferencetopresentthings，Esther
　　Dudleyappearstohavegrownpartiallycrazed。Itwasfoundthatshe
　　hadnorightsenseoftheprogressandtruestateoftheRevolutionary
　　War，butheldaconstantfaiththatthearmiesofBritainwere
　　victoriousoneveryfield，anddestinedtobeultimatelytriumphant。
　　WheneverthetownrejoicedforabattlewonbyWashington，orGates，
　　orMorgan，orGreene，thenews，inpassingthroughthedoorofthe
　　ProvinceHouse，asthroughtheivorygateofdreams，became
　　metamorphosedintoastrangetaleoftheprowessofHowe，Clinton，
　　orCornwallis。Soonerorlateritwasherinvinciblebeliefthe
　　colonieswouldbeprostrateatthefootstooloftheKing。Sometimes
　　sheseemedtotakeforgrantedthatsuchwasalreadythecase。On
　　oneoccasion，shestartledthetownspeoplebyabrilliantillumination
　　oftheProvinceHouse，withcandlesateverypaneofglass，anda
　　transparencyoftheKing’sinitialsandacrownoflightinthe
　　greatbalconywindow。Thefigureoftheagedwomaninthemost
　　gorgeousofhermildewedvelvetsandbrocadeswasseenpassingfrom
　　casementtocasement，untilshepausedbeforethebalcony，and
　　flourishedahugekeyaboveherhead。Herwrinkledvisageactually
　　gleamedwithtriumph，asifthesoulwithinherwereafestallamp。
　　“Whatmeansthisblazeoflight？WhatdoesoldEsther’sjoy
　　portend？”whisperedaspectator。“Itisfrightfultoseehergliding
　　aboutthechambers，andrejoicingtherewithoutasoultobearher
　　company。”
　　“Itisasifsheweremakingmerryinatomb。”saidanother。
　　“Pshaw！Itisnosuchmystery。”observedanoldman，aftersome
　　briefexerciseofmemory。“MistressDudleyiskeepingjubileefor
　　theKingofEngland’sbirthday。”
　　Thenthepeoplelaughedaloud，andwouldhavethrownmudagainst
　　theblazingtransparencyoftheKing’scrownandinitials，onlythat
　　theypitiedthepoorolddame，whowassodismallytriumphantamidthe
　　wreckandruinofthesystemtowhichsheappertained。
　　Oftentimesitwashercustomtoclimbthewearystaircasethat
　　woundupwardtothecupola，andthencestrainherdimmedeyesight
　　seawardandcountryward，watchingforaBritishfleet，orforthe
　　marchofagrandprocession，withtheKing’sbannerfloatingover
　　it。Thepassengersinthestreetbelowwoulddiscernheranxious
　　visage，andsendupashout，“WhenthegoldenIndianontheProvince
　　Houseshallshoothisarrow，andwhenthecockontheOldSouth
　　spireshallcrow，thenlookforaRoyalGovernoragain！”-forthishad
　　grownabywordthroughthetown。Andatlast，afterlong，long
　　years，oldEstherDudleyknew，orperchancesheonlydreamed，thata
　　RoyalGovernorwasontheeveofreturningtotheProvinceHouseto
　　receivetheheavykeywhichSirWilliamHowehadcommittedtoher
　　charge。Nowitwasthefactthatintelligencebearingsomefaint
　　analogytoEsther’sversionofitwascurrentamongthetownspeople。
　　Shesetthemansioninthebestorderthathermeansallowed，and，
　　arrayingherselfinsilksandtarnishedgold，stoodlongbeforethe
　　blurredmirrortoadmireherownmagnificence。Asshegazed，the
　　grayandwitheredladymovedherashenlips，murmuringhalfaloud，
　　talkingtoshapesthatshesawwithinthemirror，toshadowsofher
　　ownfantasies，tothehouseholdfriendsofmemory，andbiddingthem
　　rejoicewithherandcomeforthtomeettheGovernor。Andwhile
　　absorbedinthiscommunion，MistressDudleyheardthetrampofmany
　　footstepsinthestreet，and，lookingoutatthewindow，beheldwhat
　　sheconstruedastheRoyalGovernor’sarrival。
　　“Ohappyday！Oblessed，blessedhour！”sheexclaimed。“Letme
　　butbidhimwelcomewithintheportal，andmytaskintheProvince
　　House，andonearth，isdone！”
　　Thenwithtotteringfeet，whichageandtremulousjoycausedto
　　treadamiss，shehurrieddownthegrandstaircase，hersilkssweeping
　　andrustlingasshewent，sothatthesoundwasasifatrainof
　　spectralcourtierswerethrongingfromthedimmirror。AndEsther
　　Dudleyfanciedthatassoonasthewidedoorshouldbeflungopen，all
　　thepompandsplendorofby-gonetimeswouldpacemajesticallyinto
　　theProvinceHouse，andthegildedtapestryofthepastwouldbe
　　brightenedbythesunshineofthepresent。Sheturnedthekey-
　　withdrewitfromthelock-unclosedthedoor-andsteppedacrossthe
　　threshold。Advancingupthecourt-yardappearedapersonofmost
　　dignifiedmien，withtokens，asEstherinterpretedthem，ofgentle
　　blood，highrank，andlong-accustomedauthority，eveninhiswalkand
　　everygesture。Hewasrichlydressed，butworeagoutyshoe，which，
　　however，didnotlessenthestatelinessofhisgait。Aroundandbehind
　　himwerepeopleinplaincivicdresses，andtwoorthreewar-worn
　　veterans，evidentlyofficersofrank，arrayedinauniformofblueand
　　buff。ButEstherDudley，firminthebeliefthathadfastenedits
　　rootsaboutherheart，beheldonlytheprincipalpersonage，andnever
　　doubtedthatthiswasthelong-looked-forGovernor，towhomshewasto
　　surrenderuphercharge。Asheapproached，sheinvoluntarilysankdown
　　onherkneesandtremblinglyheldforththeheavykey。
　　“Receivemytrust！takeitquickly！”criedshe；“formethinksDeath
　　isstrivingtosnatchawaymytriumph。Buthecomestoolate。Thank
　　Heavenforthisblessedhour！GodsaveKingGeorge！”
　　“That，Madam，isastrangeprayertobeofferedupatsucha
　　moment。”repliedtheunknownguestoftheProvinceHouse，and
　　courteouslyremovinghishat，heofferedhisarmtoraisetheaged
　　woman。“Yet，inreverenceforyourgrayhairsandlong-keptfaith，
　　Heavenforbidthatanyhereshouldsayyounay。Overtherealms
　　whichstillacknowledgehissceptre，GodsaveKingGeorge！”
　　EstherDudleystartedtoherfeet，andhastilyclutchingbackthe
　　key，gazedwithfearfulearnestnessatthestranger；anddimlyand
　　doubtfully，asifsuddenlyawakenedfromadream，herbewildered
　　eyeshalfrecognizedhisface。Yearsagoshehadknownhimamongthe
　　gentryoftheprovince。ButthebanoftheKinghadfallenuponhim！
　　How，then，camethedoomedvictimhere？Proscribed，excludedfrom
　　mercy，themonarch’smostdreadedandhatedfoe，thisNewEngland
　　merchanthadstoodtriumphantlyagainstakingdom’sstrength；and
　　hisfootnowtroduponhumbledRoyalty，asheascendedthestepsof
　　theProvinceHouse，thepeople’schosenGovernorofMassachusetts。
　　“Wretch，wretchthatIam！”mutteredtheoldwoman，withsucha
　　heart-brokenexpressionthatthetearsgushedfromthestranger’s
　　eyes。“HaveIbiddenatraitorwelcome？Come，Death！comequickly！”
　　“Alas，venerablelady。saidGovernorHancock，lendingherhis
　　supportwithallthereverencethatacourtierwouldhaveshowntoa
　　queen。“Yourlifehasbeenprolongeduntiltheworldhaschanged
　　aroundyou。Youhavetreasuredupallthattimehasrendered
　　worthless-theprinciples，feelings，manners，modesofbeingand
　　acting，whichanothergenerationhasflungaside-andyouareasymbol
　　ofthepast。AndI，andthesearoundme-werepresentanewraceof
　　men-livingnolongerinthepast，scarcelyinthepresent-but
　　projectingourlivesforwardintothefuture。Ceasingtomodel
　　ourselvesonancestralsuperstitions，itisourfaithandprincipleto
　　pressonward，onward！Yet。”continuedhe，turningtohisattendants，
　　“letusreverence，forthelasttime，thestatelyandgorgeous
　　prejudicesofthetotteringPast！”
　　WhiletheRepublicanGovernorspoke，hehadcontinuedtosupport
　　thehelplessformofEstherDudley；herweightgrewheavieragainst
　　hisarm；butatlast，withasuddenefforttofreeherself，the
　　ancientwomansankdownbesideoneofthepillarsoftheportal。The
　　keyoftheProvinceHousefellfromhergrasp，andclankedagainstthe
　　stone。
　　“Ihavebeenfaithfuluntodeath。”murmuredshe。“Godsavethe
　　King！”
　　“Shehathdoneheroffice！”saidHancocksolemnly。“Wewill
　　followherreverentlytothetombofherancestors；andthen，my
　　fellow-citizens，onward-onward！Wearenolongerchildrenofthe
　　Past！
　　byNathanielHawthorne
　　ANDSO，Peter，youwon’tevenconsiderofthebusiness？”saidMr。
　　JohnBrown，buttoninghissurtoutoverthesnugrotundityofhis
　　person，anddrawingonhisgloves。“Youpositivelyrefusetoletme
　　havethiscrazyoldhouse，andthelandunderandadjoining，atthe
　　pricenamed？”
　　“Neitheratthat，nortreblethesum。”respondedthegaunt，
　　grizzled，andthreadbarePeterGoldthwaite。“Thefactis，Mr。Brown，
　　youmustfindanothersiteforyourbrickblock，andbecontentto
　　leavemyestatewiththepresentowner。Nextsummer，Iintendtoputa
　　splendidnewmansionoverthecellaroftheoldhouse。”
　　“Pho，Peter！”criedMr。Brown，asheopenedthekitchendoor；
　　“contentyourselfwithbuildingcastlesintheair，wherehouse-lots
　　arecheaperthanonearth，tosaynothingofthecostofbricksand
　　mortar。Suchfoundationsaresolidenoughforyouredifices，while
　　thisunderneathusisjustthethingformine；andsowemaybothbe
　　suited。Whatsayyouagain？”
　　“PreciselywhatIsaidbefore，Mr。Brown，answeredPeter
　　Goldthwaite。“Andasforcastlesintheair，minemaynotbeas
　　magnificentasthatsortofarchitecture，butperhapsas
　　substantial，Mr。Brown，astheveryrespectablebrickblockwithdry
　　goodsstores，tailors’shops，andbankingroomsonthelowerfloor，
　　andlawyers’officesinthesecondstory，whichyouaresoanxious
　　tosubstitute。”
　　“Andthecost，Peter，eh？”saidMr。Brown，ashewithdrew，in
　　somethingofapet。“That，Isuppose，willbeprovidedfor，
　　off-hand，bydrawingacheckonBubbleBank！”
　　JohnBrownandPeterGoldthwaitehadbeenjointlyknowntothe
　　commercialworldbetweentwentyandthirtyyearsbefore，underthe
　　firmofGoldthwaite&Brown；whichco-partnership，however，was
　　speedilydissolvedbythenaturalincongruityofitsconstituent
　　parts。Sincethatevent，JohnBrown，withexactlythequalitiesofa
　　thousandotherJohnBrowns，andbyjustsuchploddingmethodsas
　　theyused，hadprosperedwonderfully，andbecomeoneofthewealthiest
　　JohnBrownsonearth。PeterGoldthwaite，onthecontrary，after
　　innumerableschemes，whichoughttohavecollectedallthecoinand
　　papercurrencyofthecountryintohiscoffers，wasasneedya
　　gentlemanaseverworeapatchuponhiselbow。Thecontrastbetween
　　himandhisformerpartnermaybebrieflymarked；forBrownnever
　　reckoneduponluckyetalwayshadit；whilePetermadeluckthemain
　　conditionofhisprojects，andalwaysmissedit。Whilethemeans
　　heldout，hisspeculationshadbeenmagnificent，butwerechiefly
　　confined，oflateyears，tosuchsmallbusinessasadventuresinthe
　　lottery。Oncehehadgoneonagold-gatheringexpeditionsomewhere
　　totheSouth，andingeniouslycontrivedtoemptyhispocketsmore
　　thoroughlythanever；whileothers，doubtless，werefillingtheirs
　　withnativebullionbythehandful。Morerecentlyhehadexpendeda
　　legacyofathousandortwoofdollarsinpurchasingMexicanscrip，
　　andtherebybecametheproprietorofaprovince；which，however，so
　　farasPetercouldfindout，wassituatedwherehemighthavehadan
　　empireforthesamemoney-intheclouds。Fromasearchafterthis
　　valuablerealestatePeterreturnedsogauntandthreadbarethat，on
　　reachingNewEngland，thescarecrowsinthecornfieldsbeckonedto
　　him，ashepassedby。“Theydidbutflutterinthewind。”quoth
　　PeterGoldthwaite。No，Peter，theybeckoned，forthescarecrowsknew
　　theirbrother！
　　Attheperiodofourstoryhiswholevisibleincomewouldnot
　　havepaidthetaxoftheoldmansioninwhichwefindhim。Itwas
　　oneofthoserusty，moss-grown，many-peakedwoodenhouses，whichare
　　scatteredaboutthestreetsofoureldertowns，withabeetle-browed
　　secondstoryprojectingoverthefoundation，asifitfrownedatthe
　　noveltyaroundit。Thisoldpaternaledifice，needyashewas，and
　　though，beingcentrallysituatedontheprincipalstreetofthe
　　town，itwouldhavebroughthimahandsomesum，thesagaciousPeter
　　hadhisownreasonsforneverpartingwith，eitherbyauctionor
　　privatesale。Thereseemed，indeed，tobeafatalitythatconnected
　　himwithhisbirthplace；for，oftenashehadstoodonthevergeof
　　ruin，andstandingthereevennow，hehadnotyettakenthestep
　　beyonditwhichwouldhavecompelledhimtosurrenderthehousetohis
　　creditors。Soherehedweltwithbadlucktillgoodshouldcome。