"Onething，thouthatwastmywife，Iwouldenjoinuponthee，"
　　continuedthescholar。"Thouhastkeptthesecretofthyparamour。
　　Keep，likewise，mine！Therearenoneinthislandthatknowme。
　　Breathenot，toanyhumansoul，thatthoudidstevercallmehusband！Here，onthiswildoutskirtoftheearth，Ishallpitchmytent；for，elsewhereawanderer，andisolatedfromhumaninterests，Ifindhereawoman，aman，achild，amongstwhomandmyselfthereexisttheclosestligaments。Nomatterwhetherofloveorhate；nomatterwhetherofrightorwrong！Thouandthine，HesterPrynne，belongtome。Myhomeiswherethouart，andwhereheis。Butbetraymenot！"
　　"Whereforedostthoudesireit？"inquiredHester，shrinking，shehardlyknewwhy，fromthissecretbond。"Whynotannouncethyselfopenly，andcastmeoffatonce？"
　　"Itmaybe，"hereplied，"becauseIwillnotencounterthedishonourthatbesmirchesthehusbandofafaithlesswoman。Itmaybeforotherreasons。Enough，itismypurposetoliveanddieunknown。
　　Let，therefore，thyhusbandbetotheworldasonealreadydead，andofwhomnotidingsshallevercome。Recognisemenot，byword，bysign，bylook！Breathenotthesecret，aboveall，tothemanthouwottestof。Shouldstthoufailmeinthis，beware！Hisfame，hisposition，hislife，willbeinmyhands。Beware！"
　　"Iwillkeepthysecret，asIhavehis，"saidHester。
　　"Swearit！"rejoinedhe。
　　Andshetooktheoath。
　　"Andnow，MistressPrynne，"saidoldRogerChillingworth，ashewashereaftertobenamed，"Ileavetheealone；alonewiththyinfant，andthescarletletter！Howisit，Hester？Doththysentencebindtheetowearthetokeninthysleep？Artthounotafraidofnightmaresandhideousdreams？"
　　"Whydostthousmilesoatme？"inquiredHester，troubledattheexpressionofhiseyes。"ArtthouliketheBlackManthathauntstheforestroundaboutus？Hastthouenticedmeintoabondthatwillprovetheruinofmysoul？"
　　"Notthysoul，"heanswered，withanothersmile。"No，notthysoul。"
　　V。
　　HESTERATHERNEEDLE。
　　HESTERPRYNNE’Stermofconfinementwasnowatanend。Herprison—doorwasthrownopen，andshecameforthintothesunshine，which，fallingonallalike，seemed，tohersickandmorbidheart，asifmeantfornootherpurposethantorevealthescarletletteronherbreast。Perhapstherewasamorerealtortureinherfirstunattendedfootstepsfromthethresholdoftheprison，thanevenintheprocessionandspectaclethathavebeendescribed，whereshewasmadethecommoninfamy，atwhichallmankindwassummonedtopointitsfinger。Then，shewassupportedbyanunnaturaltensionofthenerves，andbyallthecombativeenergyofhercharacter，whichenabledhertoconvertthesceneintoakindofluridtriumph。Itwas，moreover，aseparateandinsulatedevent，tooccurbutonceinherlifetime，andtomeetwhich，therefore，recklessofeconomy，shemightcallupthevitalstrengththatwouldhavesufficedformanyquietyears。Theverylawthatcondemnedher—agiantofsternfeatures，butwithvigourtosupport，aswellastoannihilate，inhisironarm—hadheldherup，throughtheterribleordealofherignominy。Butnow，withthisunattendedwalkfromherprison—door，beganthedailycustom；andshemusteithersustainandcarryitforwardbytheordinaryresourcesofhernature，orsinkbeneathit。Shecouldnolongerborrowfromthefuturetohelpherthroughthepresentgrief。To—morrowwouldbringitsowntrialwithit；sowouldthenextday，andsowouldthenext；
　　eachitsowntrial，andyettheverysamethatwasnowsounutterablygrievoustobeborne。Thedaysofthefar—offfuturewouldtoilonward，stillwiththesameburdenforhertotakeup，andbearalongwithher，butnevertoflingdown；fortheaccumulatingdays，andaddedyears，wouldpileuptheirmiseryupontheheapofshame。
　　Throughoutthemall，givingupherindividuality，shewouldbecomethegeneralsymbolatwhichthepreacherandmoralistmightpoint，andinwhichtheymightvivifyandembodytheirimagesofwoman’sfrailtyandsinfulpassion。Thustheyoungandpurewouldbetaughttolookather，withthescarletletterflamingonherbreast—ather，thechildofhonourableparents—ather，themotherofababe，thatwouldhereafterbeawoman—ather，whohadoncebeeninnocent—asthefigure，thebody，therealityofsin。Andoverhergrave，theinfamythatshemustcarrythitherwouldbeheronlymonument。
　　Itmayseemmarvellous，that，withtheworldbeforeher—keptbynorestrictiveclauseofhercondemnationwithinthelimitsofthePuritansettlement，soremoteandsoobscure—freetoreturntoherbirthplace，ortoanyotherEuropeanland，andtherehidehercharacterandidentityunderanewexterior，ascompletelyasifemergingintoanotherstateofbeing—andhavingalsothepassesofthedark，inscrutableforestopentoher，wherethewildnessofhernaturemightassimilateitselfwithapeoplewhosecustomsandlifewerealienfromthelawthathadcondemnedher—itmayseemmarvellous，thatthiswomanshouldstillcallthatplaceherhome，where，andwhereonly，shemustneedsbethetypeofshame。Butthereisafatality，afeelingsoirresistibleandinevitablethatithastheforceofdoom，whichalmostinvariablycompelshumanbeingstolingeraroundandhaunt，ghost—like，thespotwheresomegreatandmarkedeventhasgiventhecolourtotheirlifetime；andstillthemoreirresistibly，thedarkerthetingethatsaddensit。Hersin，herignominy，weretherootswhichshehadstruckintothesoil。Itwasasifanewbirth，withstrongerassimilationsthanthefirst，hadconvertedtheforest—land，stillsouncongenialtoeveryotherpilgrimandwanderer，intoHesterPrynne’swildanddreary，butlife—longhome。Allotherscenesofearth—eventhatvillageofruralEngland，wherehappyinfancyandstainlessmaidenhoodseemedyettobeinhermother’skeeping，likegarmentsputofflongago—wereforeigntoher，incomparison。Thechainthatboundherherewasofironlinks，andgallingtoherinmostsoul，butcouldneverbebroken。
　　Itmightbe，too—doubtlessitwasso，althoughshehidthesecretfromherself，andgrewpalewheneveritstruggledoutofherheart，likeaserpentfromitshole—itmightbethatanotherfeelingkeptherwithinthesceneandpathwaythathadbeensofatal。Theredwelt，theretrodethefeetofonewithwhomshedeemedherselfconnectedinaunion，that，unrecognisedonearth，wouldbringthemtogetherbeforethebaroffinaljudgment，andmakethattheirmarriage—altar，forajointfuturityofendlessretribution。Overandoveragain，thetempterofsoulshadthrustthisideauponHester’scontemplation，andlaughedatthepassionateanddesperatejoywithwhichsheseized，andthenstrovetocastitfromher。Shebarelylookedtheideaintheface，andhastenedtobaritinitsdungeon。Whatshecompelledherselftobelieve—what，finally，shereasonedupon，ashermotiveforcontinuingaresidentofNewEngland—
　　washalfatruth，andhalfaself—delusion。Here，shesaidtoherself，hadbeenthesceneofherguilt，andhereshouldbethesceneofherearthlypunishment；andso，perchance，thetortureofherdailyshamewouldatlengthpurgehersoul，andworkoutanotherpuritythanthatwhichshehadlost；moresaint—like，becausetheresultofmartyrdom。
　　HesterPrynne，therefore，didnotflee。Ontheoutskirtsofthetown，withinthevergeofthepeninsula，butnotinclosevicinitytoanyotherhabitation，therewasasmallthatchedcottage。Ithadbeenbuiltbyanearliersettler，andabandoned，becausethesoilaboutitwastoosterileforcultivation，whileitscomparativeremotenessputitoutofthesphereofthatsocialactivitywhichalreadymarkedthehabitsoftheemigrants。Itstoodontheshore，lookingacrossabasinoftheseaattheforest—coveredhills，towardsthewest。Aclumpofscrubbytrees，suchasalonegrewonthepeninsula，didnotsomuchconcealthecottagefromview，asseemtodenotethatherewassomeobjectwhichwouldfainhavebeen，oratleastoughttobe，concealed。Inthislittle，lonesomedwelling，withsomeslendermeansthatshepossessed，andbythelicenseofthemagistrates，whostillkeptaninquisitorialwatchoverher，Hesterestablishedherself，withherinfantchild。Amysticshadowofsuspicionimmediatelyattacheditselftothespot。Children，tooyoungtocomprehendwhereforethiswomanshouldbeshutoutfromthesphereofhumancharities，wouldcreepnighenoughtobeholdherplyingherneedleatthecottage—window，orstandinginthedoorway，orlabouringinherlittlegarden，orcomingforthalongthepathwaythatledtownward；and，discerningthescarletletteronherbreast，wouldscamperoffwithastrange，contagiousfear。
　　LonelyaswasHester’ssituation，andwithoutafriendonearthwhodaredtoshowhimself，she，however，incurrednoriskofwant。Shepossessedanartthatsufficed，eveninalandthataffordedcomparativelylittlescopeforitsexercise，tosupplyfoodforherthrivinginfantandherself。Itwastheart—then，asnow，almosttheonlyonewithinawoman’sgrasp—ofneedlework。Sheboreonherbreast，inthecuriouslyembroideredletter，aspecimenofherdelicateandimaginativeskill，ofwhichthedamesofacourtmightgladlyhaveavailedthemselves，toaddthericherandmorespiritualadornmentofhumaningenuitytotheirfabricsofsilkandgold。
　　Here，indeed，inthesablesimplicitythatgenerallycharacterisedthePuritanicmodesofdress，theremightbeaninfrequentcallforthefinerproductionsofherhandiwork。Yetthetasteoftheage，demandingwhateverwaselaborateincompositionsofthiskind，didnotfailtoextenditsinfluenceoveroursternprogenitors，whohadcastbehindthemsomanyfashionswhichitmightseemhardertodispensewith。Publicceremonies，suchasordinations，theinstallationofmagistrates，andallthatcouldgivemajestytotheformsinwhichanewgovernmentmanifesteditselftothepeople，were，asamatterofpolicy，markedbyastatelyandwell—conductedceremonial，andasombre，butyetastudiedmagnificence。Deepruffs，painfullywroughtbands，andgorgeouslyembroideredgloveswerealldeemednecessarytotheofficialstateofmenassumingthereinsofpower；andwerereadilyallowedtoindividualsdignifiedbyrankorwealth，evenwhilesumptuarylawsforbadetheseandsimilarextravagancestotheplebeianorder。Inthearrayoffunerals，too—
　　whetherfortheapparelofthedeadbody，ortotypify，bymanifoldemblematic—devicesofsableclothandsnowylawn，thesorrowofthesurvivors—therewasafrequentandcharacteristicdemandforsuchlabourasHesterPrynnecouldsupply。Baby—linen—forbabiesthenworerobesofstate—affordedstillanotherpossibilityoftoilandemolument。
　　Bydegrees，norveryslowly，herhandiworkbecamewhatwouldnowbetermedthefashion。Whetherfromcommiserationforawomanofsomiserableadestiny；orfromthemorbidcuriositythatgivesafictitiousvalueeventocommonorworthlessthings；orbywhateverotherintangiblecircumstancewasthen，asnow，sufficienttobestow，onsomepersons，whatothersmightseekinvain；orbecauseHesterreallyfilledagapwhichmustotherwisehaveremainedvacant；itiscertainthatshehadreadyandfairlyrequitedemploymentforasmanyhoursasshesawfittooccupywithherneedle。
　　Vanity，itmaybe，chosetomortifyitself，byputtingon，forceremonialsofpompandstate，thegarmentsthathadbeenwroughtbyhersinfulhands。Herneedle—workwasseenontheruffoftheGovernor；militarymenworeitontheirscarfs，andtheministeronhishand；itdeckedthebaby’slittlecap；itwasshutup，tobemildewedandmoulderaway，inthecoffinsofthedead。Butitisnotrecordedthat，inasingleinstance，herskillwascalledinaidtoembroiderthewhiteveilwhichwastocoverthepureblushesofabride。Theexceptionindicatedtheeverrelentlessvigourwithwhichsocietyfrowneduponhersin。
　　Hestersoughtnottoacquireanythingbeyondasubsistence，oftheplainestandmostasceticdescription，forherself，andasimpleabundanceforherchild。Herowndresswasofthecoarsestmaterialsandthemostsombrehue；withonlythatoneornament—thescarletletter—whichitwasherdoomtowear。Thechild’sattire，ontheotherhand，wasdistinguishedbyafanciful，or，wemightrathersay，afantasticingenuity，whichserved，indeed，toheightentheairycharmthatearlybegantodevelopitselfinthelittlegirl，butwhichappearedtohavealsoadeepermeaning。Wemayspeakfurtherofithereafter。Exceptforthatsmallexpenditureinthedecorationofherinfant，Hesterbestowedallhersuperfluousmeansincharity，onwretcheslessmiserablethanherself，andwhonotinfrequentlyinsultedthehandthatfedthem。Muchofthetime，whichshemightreadilyhaveappliedtothebettereffortsofherart，sheemployedinmakingcoarsegarmentsforthepoor。Itisprobablethattherewasanideaofpenanceinthismodeofoccupation，andthatsheoffereduparealsacrificeofenjoyment，indevotingsomanyhourstosuchrudehandiwork。Shehadinhernaturearich，voluptuous，Orientalcharacteristic—atasteforthegorgeouslybeautiful，which，saveintheexquisiteproductionsofherneedle，foundnothingelse，inallthepossibilitiesofherlife，toexerciseitselfupon。Womenderiveapleasure，incomprehensibletotheothersex，fromthedelicatetoiloftheneedle。ToHesterPrynneitmighthavebeenamodeofexpressing，andthereforesoothing，thepassionofherlife。Likeallotherjoys，sherejecteditassin。Thismorbidmeddlingofconsciencewithanimmaterialmatterbetokened，itistobefeared，nogenuineandsteadfastpenitence，butsomethingdoubtful，somethingthatmightbedeeplywrong，beneath。
　　Inthismanner，HesterPrynnecametohaveaparttoperformintheworld。Withhernativeenergyofcharacter，andrarecapacity，itcouldnotentirelycastheroff，althoughithadsetamarkuponher，moreintolerabletoawoman’sheartthanthatwhichbrandedthebrowofCain。Inallherintercoursewithsociety，however，therewasnothingthatmadeherfeelasifshebelongedtoit。Everygesture，everyword，andeventhesilenceofthosewithwhomshecameincontact，implied，andoftenexpressed，thatshewasbanished，andasmuchaloneasifsheinhabitedanothersphere，orcommunicatedwiththecommonnaturebyotherorgansandsensesthantherestofhumankind。Shestoodapartfrommoralinterests，yetclosebesidethem，likeaghostthatrevisitsthefamiliarfireside，andcannolongermakeitselfseenorfelt；nomoresmilewiththehouseholdjoy，normournwiththekindredsorrow；or，shoulditsucceedinmanifestingitsforbiddensympathy，awakeningonlyterrorandhorriblerepugnance。Theseemotions，infact，anditsbitterestscornbesides，seemedtobethesoleportionthatsheretainedintheuniversalheart。Itwasnotanageofdelicacy；andherposition，althoughsheunderstooditwell，andwasinlittledangerofforgettingit，wasoftenbroughtbeforehervividself—perception，likeanewanguish，bytherudesttouchuponthetenderestspot。Thepoor，aswehavealreadysaid，whomshesoughtouttobetheobjectsofherbounty，oftenreviledthehandthatwasstretchedforthtosuccourthem。Damesofelevatedrank，likewise，whosedoorssheenteredinthewayofheroccupation，wereaccustomedtodistildropsofbitternessintoherheart；sometimesthroughthatalchemyofquietmalice，bywhichwomencanconcoctasubtilepoisonfromordinarytrifles；andsometimes，also，byacoarserexpression，thatfelluponthesufferer’sdefencelessbreastlikearoughblowuponanulceratedwound。Hesterhadschooledherselflongandwell；sheneverrespondedtotheseattacks，savebyaflushofcrimsonthatroseirrepressiblyoverherpalecheek，andagainsubsidedintothedepthsofherbosom。Shewaspatient—amartyr，indeed—butsheforboretoprayforherenemies；lest，inspiteofherforgivingaspirations，thewordsoftheblessingshouldstubbornlytwistthemselvesintoacurse。
　　Continually，andinathousandotherways，didshefeeltheinnumerablethrobsofanguishthathadbeensocunninglycontrivedforherbytheundying，theever—activesentenceofthePuritantribunal。Clergymenpausedinthestreettoaddresswordsofexhortation，thatbroughtacrowd，withitsmingledgrinandfrown，aroundthepoor，sinfulwoman。Ifsheenteredachurch，trustingtosharetheSabbathsmileoftheUniversalFather，itwasoftenhermishaptofindherselfthetextofthediscourse。Shegrewtohaveadreadofchildren；fortheyhadimbibedfromtheirparentsavagueideaofsomethinghorribleinthisdrearywoman，glidingsilentlythroughthetown，withneveranycompanionbutoneonlychild。
　　Therefore，firstallowinghertopass，theypursuedheratadistancewithshrillcries，andtheutteranceofawordthathadnodistinctpurporttotheirownminds，butwasnonethelessterribletoher，asproceedingfromlipsthatbabbleditunconsciously。Itseemedtoarguesowideadiffusionofhershame，thatallnatureknewofit；itcouldhavecausedhernodeeperpang，hadtheleavesofthetreeswhisperedthedarkstoryamongthemselves—hadthesummerbreezemurmuredaboutit—hadthewintryblastshriekeditaloud！
　　Anotherpeculiartorturewasfeltinthegazeofaneweye。Whenstrangerslookedcuriouslyatthescarletletter—andnoneeverfailedtodoso—theybrandeditafreshintoHester’ssoul；sothat，oftentimes，shecouldscarcelyrefrain，yetalwaysdidrefrain，fromcoveringthesymbolwithherhand。Butthen，again，anaccustomedeyehadlikewiseitsownanguishtoinflict。Itscoolstareoffamiliaritywasintolerable。Fromfirsttolast，inshort，HesterPrynnehadalwaysthisdreadfulagonyinfeelingahumaneyeuponthetoken；thespotnevergrewcallous；itseemed，onthecontrary，togrowmoresensitivewithdailytorture。
　　Butsometimes，onceinmanydays，orperchanceinmanymonths，shefeltaneye—ahumaneye—upontheignominiousbrand，thatseemedtogiveamomentaryrelief，asifhalfofheragonywereshared。Thenextinstant，backitallrushedagain，withstilladeeperthrobofpain；for，inthatbriefinterval，shehadsinnedanew。HadHestersinnedalone？
　　Herimaginationwassomewhataffected，and，hadshebeenofasoftermoralandintellectualfibre，wouldhavebeenstillmoreso，bythestrangeandsolitaryanguishofherlife。Walkingtoandfro，withthoselonelyfootsteps，inthelittleworldwithwhichshewasoutwardlyconnected，itnowandthenappearedtoHester—ifaltogetherfancy，itwasneverthelesstoopotenttoberesisted—shefeltorfancied，then，thatthescarletletterhadendowedherwithanewsense。Sheshudderedtobelieve，yetcouldnothelpbelieving，thatitgaveherasympatheticknowledgeofthehiddensininotherhearts。
　　Shewasterror—strickenbytherevelationsthatwerethusmade。Whatwerethey？Couldtheybeotherthantheinsidiouswhispersofthebadangel，whowouldfainhavepersuadedthestrugglingwoman，asyetonlyhalfhisvictim，thattheoutwardguiseofpuritywasbutalie，andthat，iftruthwereeverywheretobeshown，ascarletletterwouldblazeforthonmanyabosombesidesHesterPrynne’s？
　　Or，mustshereceivethoseintimations—soobscure，yetsodistinct—
　　astruth？Inallhermiserableexperience，therewasnothingelsesoawfulandsoloathsomeasthissense。Itperplexed，aswellasshockedher，bytheirreverentinopportunenessoftheoccasionsthatbroughtitintovividaction。Sometimestheredinfamyuponherbreastwouldgiveasympatheticthrob，asshepassednearavenerableministerormagistrate，themodelofpietyandjustice，towhomthatageofantiquereverencelookedup，astoamortalmaninfellowshipwithangels。"Whatevilthingisathand？"wouldHestersaytoherself。
　　Liftingherreluctanteyes，therewouldbenothinghumanwithinthescopeofview，savetheformofthisearthlysaint！Again，amysticsisterhoodwouldcontumaciouslyassertitself，asshemetthesanctifiedfrownofsomematron，who，accordingtotherumourofalltongues，hadkeptcoldsnowwithinherbosomthroughoutlife。Thatunsunnedsnowinthematron’sbosom，andtheburningshameonHesterPrynne’s—whathadthetwoincommon？Or，oncemore，theelectricthrillwouldgiveherwarning—"Behold，Hester，hereisacompanion！"—
　　and，lookingup，shewoulddetecttheeyesofayoungmaidenglancingatthescarletletter，shylyandaside，andquicklyaverted，withafaint，chillcrimsoninhercheeks；asifherpurityweresomewhatsulliedbythatmomentaryglance。OFiend，whosetalismanwasthatfatalsymbol，wouldstthouleavenothing，whetherinyouthorage，forthispoorsinnertorevere？—suchlossoffaithiseveroneofthesaddestresultsofsin。Beitacceptedasaproofthatallwasnotcorruptinthispoorvictimofherownfrailty，andman’shardlaw，thatHesterPrynneyetstruggledtobelievethatnofellow—mortalwasguiltylikeherself。
　　Thevulgar，who，inthosedrearyoldtimes，werealwayscontributingagrotesquehorrortowhatinterestedtheirimaginations，hadastoryaboutthescarletletterwhichwemightreadilyworkupintoaterrificlegend。Theyaverred，thatthesymbolwasnotmerescarletcloth，tingedinanearthlydye—pot，butwasred—hotwithinfernalfire，andcouldbeseenglowingallalight，wheneverHesterPrynnewalkedabroadinthenight—time。Andwemustneedssay，itsearedHester’sbosomsodeeply，thatperhapstherewasmoretruthintherumourthanourmodernincredulitymaybeinclinedtoadmit。
　　VI。
　　PEARL。
　　WEhaveasyethardlyspokenoftheinfant；thatlittlecreature，whoseinnocentlifehadsprung，bytheinscrutabledecreeofProvidence，alovelyandimmortalflower，outoftherankluxurianceofapassion。Howstrangeitseemedtothesadwoman，asshewatchedthegrowth，andthebeautythatbecameeverydaymorebrilliant，andtheintelligencethatthrewitsquiveringsunshineoverthetinyfeaturesofthischild！HerPearl！—ForsohadHestercalledher；
　　notasanameexpressiveofheraspect，whichhadnothingofthecalm，white，unimpassionedlustrethatwouldbeindicatedbythecomparison。
　　Butshenamedtheinfant"Pearl，"asbeingofgreatprice—purchasedwithallshehad—hermother’sonlytreasure！Howstrange，indeed！Manhadmarkedthiswoman’ssinbyascarletletter，whichhadsuchpotentanddisastrousefficacythatnohumansympathycouldreachher，saveitweresinfullikeherself。God，asadirectconsequenceofthesinwhichmanthuspunished，hadgivenheralovelychild，whoseplacewasonthatsamedishonouredbosom，toconnectherparentforeverwiththeraceanddescentofmortals，andtobefinallyablessedsoulinheaven！YetthesethoughtsaffectedHesterPrynnelesswithhopethanapprehension。Sheknewthatherdeedhadbeenevil；shecouldhavenofaith，therefore，thatitsresultwouldbegood。Dayafterday，shelookedfearfullyintothechild’sexpandingnature；everdreadingtodetectsomedarkandwildpeculiarity，thatshouldcorrespondwiththeguiltinesstowhichsheowedherbeing。
　　Certainly，therewasnophysicaldefect。Byitsperfectshape，itsvigour，anditsnaturaldexterityintheuseofallitsuntriedlimbs，theinfantwasworthytohavebeenbroughtforthinEden；worthytohavebeenleftthere，tobetheplaythingoftheangelsaftertheworld’sfirstparentsweredrivenout。Thechildhadanativegracewhichdoesnotinvariablycoexistwithfaultlessbeauty；itsattire，howeversimple，alwaysimpressedthebeholderasifitweretheverygarbthatpreciselybecameitbest。ButlittlePearlwasnotcladinrusticweeds。Hermother，withamorbidpurposethatmaybebetterunderstoodhereafter，hadboughttherichesttissuesthatcouldbeprocured，andallowedherimaginativefacultyitsfullplayinthearrangementanddecorationofthedresseswhichthechildwore，beforethepubliceye。Somagnificentwasthesmallfigure，whenthusarrayed，andsuchwasthesplendourofPearl’sownproperbeauty，shiningthroughthegorgeousrobeswhichmighthaveextinguishedapalerloveliness，thattherewasanabsolutecircleofradiancearoundher，onthedarksomecottagefloor。Andyetarussetgown，tornandsoiledwiththechild’srudeplay，madeapictureofherjustasperfect。Pearl’saspectwasimbuedwithaspellofinfinitevariety；
　　inthisonechildthereweremanychildren，comprehendingthefullscopebetweenthewild—flowerprettinessofapeasant—baby，andthepomp，inlittle，ofaninfantprincess。Throughoutall，however，therewasatraitofpassion，acertaindepthofhue，whichsheneverlost；andif，inanyofherchanges，shehadgrownfainterorpaler，shewouldhaveceasedtobeherself—itwouldhavebeennolongerPearl！
　　Thisoutwardmutabilityindicated，anddidnotmorethanfairlyexpress，thevariouspropertiesofherinnerlife。Hernatureappearedtopossessdepth，too，aswellasvariety；but—orelseHester’sfearsdeceivedher—itlackedreferenceandadaptationtotheworldintowhichshewasborn。Thechildcouldnotbemadeamenabletorules。
　　Ingivingherexistence，agreatlawhadbeenbroken；andtheresultwasabeingwhoseelementswereperhapsbeautifulandbrilliant，butallindisorder；orwithanorderpeculiartothemselves，amidstwhichthepointofvarietyandarrangementwasdifficultorimpossibletobediscovered。Hestercouldonlyaccountforthechild’scharacter—andeventhenmostvaguelyandimperfectly—byrecallingwhatsheherselfhadbeen，duringthatmomentousperiodwhilePearlwasimbibinghersoulfromthespiritualworld，andherbodilyframefromitsmaterialofearth。Themother’simpassionedstatehadbeenthemediumthroughwhichweretransmittedtotheunborninfanttheraysofitsmoralLife；and，howeverwhiteandclearoriginally，theyhadtakenthedeepstainsofcrimsonandgold，thefierylustre，theblackshadow，andtheuntemperedlight，oftheinterveningsubstance。Aboveall，thewarfareofHester’sspirit，atthatepoch，wasperpetuatedinPearl。Shecouldrecogniseherwild，desperate，defiantmood，theflightinessofhertemper，andevensomeoftheverycloud—shapesofgloomanddespondencythathadbroodedinherheart。
　　Theywerenowilluminatedbythemorningradianceofayoungchild’sdisposition，but，laterinthedayofearthlyexistence，mightbeprolificofthestormandwhirlwind。