Thedisciplineofthefamily，inthosedays，wasofafarmorerigidkindthannow。Thefrown，theharshrebuke，thefrequentapplicationoftherod，enjoinedbyScripturalauthority，wereused，notmerelyinthewayofpunishmentforactualoffences，butasawholesomeregimenforthegrowthandpromotionofallchildishvirtues。HesterPrynne，nevertheless，thelonelymotherofthisonechild，ranlittleriskoferringonthesideofundueseverity。Mindful，however，ofherownerrorsandmisfortunes，sheearlysoughttoimposeatender，butstrictcontrolovertheinfantimmortalitythatwascommittedtohercharge。Butthetaskwasbeyondherskill。Aftertestingbothsmilesandfrowns，andprovingthatneithermodeoftreatmentpossessedanycalculableinfluence，Hesterwasultimatelycompelledtostandaside，andpermitthechildtobeswayedbyherownimpulses。Physicalcompulsionorrestraintwaseffectual，ofcourse，whileitlasted。Astoanyotherkindofdiscipline，whetheraddressedtohermindorheart，littlePearlmightormightnotbewithinitsreach，inaccordancewiththecapricethatruledthemoment。Hermother，whilePearlwasyetaninfant，grewacquaintedwithacertainpeculiarlook，thatwarnedherwhenitwouldbelabourthrownawaytoinsist，persuade，orplead。Itwasalooksointelligent，yetinexplicable，soperverse，sometimessomalicious，butgenerallyaccompaniedbyawildflowofspirits，thatHestercouldnothelpquestioning，atsuchmoments，whetherPearlwasahumanchild。Sheseemedratheranairysprite，which，afterplayingitsfantasticsportsforalittlewhileuponthecottage—floor，wouldflitawaywithamockingsmile。Wheneverthatlookappearedinherwild，bright，deeplyblackeyes，itinvestedherwithastrangeremotenessandintangibility；itwasasifshewerehoveringintheairandmightvanish，likeaglimmeringlight，thatcomesweknownotwhence，andgoesweknownotwhither。Beholdingit，Hesterwasconstrainedtorushtowardsthechild—topursuethelittleelfintheflightwhichsheinvariablybegan—tosnatchhertoherbosom，withaclosepressureandearnestkisses—notsomuchfromoverflowinglove，astoassureherselfthatPearlwasfleshandblood，andnotutterlydelusive。
ButPearl’slaugh，whenshewascaught，thoughfullofmerrimentandmusic，madehermothermoredoubtfulthanbefore。
Heart—smittenatthisbewilderingandbafflingspell，thatsooftencamebetweenherselfandhersoletreasure，whomshehadboughtsodear，andwhowasallherworld，Hestersometimesburstintopassionatetears。Then，perhaps—fortherewasnoforeseeinghowitmightaffecther—Pearlwouldfrown，andclenchherlittlefist，andhardenhersmallfeaturesintoastern，unsympathisinglookofdiscontent。Notseldom，shewouldlaughanew，andlouderthanbefore，likeathingincapableandunintelligentofhumansorrow。
Or—butthismorerarelyhappened—shewouldbeconvulsedwitharageofgrief，andsoboutherloveforhermother，inbrokenwords，andseemintentonprovingthatshehadaheart，bybreakingit。YetHesterwashardlysafeinconfidingherselftothatgustytenderness；itpassed，assuddenlyasitcame。Broodingoverallthesematters，themotherfeltlikeonewhohasevokedaspirit，but，bysomeirregularityintheprocessofconjuration，hasfailedtowinthemaster—wordthatshouldcontrolthisnewandincomprehensibleintelligence。Heronlyrealcomfortwaswhenthechildlayintheplacidityofsleep。Thenshewassureofher，andtastedhoursofquiet，sad，delicioushappiness；until—perhapswiththatperverseexpressionglimmeringfrombeneathheropeninglids—littlePearlawoke！
Howsoon—withwhatstrangerapidity，indeed！—didPearlarriveatanagethatwascapableofsocialintercourse，beyondthemother’sever—readysmileandnonsense—words！Andthenwhatahappinesswouldithavebeen，couldHesterPrynnehaveheardherclear，birdlikevoiceminglingwiththeuproarofotherchildishvoices，andhavedistinguishedandunravelledherowndarling’stones，amidalltheentangledoutcryofagroupofsportivechildren！Butthiscouldneverbe。Pearlwasabornoutcastoftheinfantileworld。Animpofevil，emblemandproductofsin，shehadnorightamongchristenedinfants。Nothingwasmoreremarkablethantheinstinct，asitseemed，withwhichthechildcomprehendedherloneliness；thedestinythathaddrawnaninviolablecircleroundabouther；thewholepeculiarity，inshort，ofherpositioninrespecttootherchildren。
Never，sinceherreleasefromprison，hadHestermetthepublicgazewithouther。Inallherwalksaboutthetown，Pearl，too，wasthere；
firstasthebabeinarms，andafterwardsasthelittlegirl，smallcompanionofhermother，holdingaforefingerwithherwholegrasp，andtrippingalongattherateofthreeorfourfootstepstooneofHester’s。Shesawthechildrenofthesettlement，onthegrassymarginofthestreet，oratthedomesticthresholds，disportingthemselvesinsuchgrimfashionasthePuritanicnurturewouldpermit；playingatgoingtochurch，perchance；oratscourgingQuakers；ortakingscalpsinasham—fightwiththeIndians；orscaringoneanotherwithfreaksofimitativewitchcraft。Pearlsaw，andgazedintently，butneversoughttomakeacquaintance。Ifspokento，shewouldnotspeakagain。Ifthechildrengatheredabouther，astheysometimesdid，Pearlwouldgrowpositivelyterribleinherpunywrath，snatchingupstonestoflingatthem，withshrill，incoherentexclamations，thatmadehermothertremble，becausetheyhadsomuchthesoundofawitch’sanathemasinsomeunknowntongue。
Thetruthwas，thatthelittlePuritans，beingofthemostintolerantbroodthateverlived，hadavagueideaofsomethingoutlandish，unearthly，oratvariancewithordinaryfashions，inthemotherandchild；andthereforescornedthemintheirhearts，andnotunfrequentlyreviledthemwiththeirtongues。Pearlfeltthesentiment，andrequiteditwiththebitteresthatredthatcanbesupposedtorankleinachildishbosom。Theseoutbreaksofafiercetemperhadakindofvalue，andevencomfort，forhermother；
becausetherewasatleastanintelligibleearnestnessinthemood，insteadofthefitfulcapricethatsooftenthwartedherinthechild’smanifestations。Itappalledher，nevertheless，todiscernhereagain，ashadowyreflectionoftheevilthathadexistedinherself。
AllthisenmityandpassionhadPearlinherited，byinalienableright，outofHester’sheart。Motheranddaughterstoodtogetherinthesamecircleofseclusionfromhumansociety；andinthenatureofthechildseemedtobeperpetuatedthoseunquietelementsthathaddistractedHesterPrynnebeforePearl’sbirth，buthadsincebeguntobesoothedawaybythesofteninginfluencesofmaternity。
Athome，withinandaroundhermother’scottage，Pearlwantednotawideandvariouscircleofacquaintance。Thespelloflifewentforthfromherevercreativespirit，andcommunicateditselftoathousandobjects，asatorchkindlesaflamewhereveritmaybeapplied。Theunlikeliestmaterials—astick，abunchofrags，aflower—werethepuppetsofPearl’switchcraft，and，withoutundergoinganyoutwardchange，becamespirituallyadaptedtowhateverdramaoccupiedthestageofherinnerworld。Heronebaby—voiceservedamultitudeofimaginarypersonages，oldandyoung，totalkwithal。Thepine—trees，aged，blackandsolemn，andflinginggroansandothermelancholyutterancesonthebreeze，neededlittletransformationtofigureasPuritanelders；theugliestweedsofthegardenweretheirchildren，whomPearlsmotedownanduprooted，mostunmercifully。Itwaswonderful，thevastvarietyofformsintowhichshethrewherintellect，withnocontinuity，indeed，butdartingupanddancing，alwaysinastateofpreternaturalactivity—soonsinkingdown，asifexhaustedbysorapidandfeverishatideoflife—andsucceededbyothershapesofasimilarwildenergy。Itwaslikenothingsomuchasthephantasmagoricplayofthenorthernlights。Inthemereexerciseofthefancy，however，andthesportivenessofagrowingmind，theremightbelittlemorethanwasobservableinotherchildrenofbrightfaculties；exceptasPearl，inthedearthofhumanplaymates，wasthrownmoreuponthevisionarythrongwhichshecreated。Thesingularitylayinthehostilefeelingswithwhichthechildregardedalltheseoffspringofherownheartandmind。Shenevercreatedafriend，butseemedalwaystobesowingbroadcastthedragon’steeth，whencesprungaharvestofarmedenemies，againstwhomsherushedtobattle。Itwasinexpressiblysad—thenwhatdepthofsorrowtoamother，whofeltinherownheartthecause！—toobserve，inonesoyoung，thisconstantrecognitionofanadverseworld，andsofierceatrainingoftheenergiesthatweretomakegoodhercause，inthecontestthatmustensue。
GazingatPearl，HesterPrynneoftendroppedherworkuponherknees，andcriedoutwithanagonywhichshewouldfainhavehidden，butwhichmadeutteranceforitself，betwixtspeechandagroan，"O
Fatherinheaven—ifThouartstillmyFather—whatisthisbeingwhichIhavebroughtintotheworld！"AndPearl，overbearingtheejaculation，oraware，throughsomemoresubtilechannel，ofthosethrobsofanguish，wouldturnhervividandbeautifullittlefaceuponhermother，smilewithsprite—likeintelligence，andresumeherplay。
Onepeculiarityofthechild’sdeportmentremainsyettobetold。
Theveryfirstthingwhichshehadnoticed，inherlife，was—what？—
notthemother’ssmile，respondingtoit，asotherbabiesdo，bythatfaint，embryosmileofthelittlemouth，rememberedsodoubtfullyafterwards，andwithsuchfonddiscussionwhetheritwereindeedasmile。Bynomeans！ButthatfirstobjectofwhichPearlseemedtobecomeawarewas—shallwesayit？—thescarletletteronHester’sbosom！Oneday，ashermotherstoopedoverthecradle，theinfant’seyeshadbeencaughtbytheglimmeringofthegoldembroideryabouttheletter；and，puttingupherlittlehand，shegraspedatit，smiling，notdoubtfully，butwithadecidedgleam，thatgaveherfacethelookofamucholderchild。Then，gaspingforbreath，didHesterPrynneclutchthefataltoken，instinctivelyendeavouringtotearitaway；soinfinitewasthetortureinflictedbytheintelligenttouchofPearl’sbabyhand。Again，asifhermother’sagonisedgestureweremeantonlytomakesportforher，didlittlePearllookintohereyes，andsmile！Fromthatepoch，exceptwhenthechildwasasleep，Hesterhadneverfeltamoment’ssafety；notamoment’scalmenjoymentofher。Weeks，itistrue，wouldsometimeselapse，duringwhichPearl’sgazemightneveroncebefixeduponthescarletletter；butthen，again，itwouldcomeatunawares，likethestrokeofsuddendeath，andalwayswiththatpeculiarsmile，andoddexpressionoftheeyes。
Once，thisfreakish，elvishcastcameintothechild’seyes，whileHesterwaslookingatherownimageinthem，asmothersarefondofdoing；and，suddenly—forwomeninsolitude，andwithtroubledhearts，arepesteredwithunaccountabledelusions—shefanciedthatshebeheld，notherownminiatureportrait，butanotherface，inthesmallblackmirrorofPearl’seye。Itwasafacefiend—like，fullofsmilingmalice，yetbearingthesemblanceoffeaturesthatshehadknownfullwell，thoughseldomwithasmile，andneverwithmaliceinthem。Itwasasifanevilspiritpossessedthechild，andhadjustthenpeepedforthinmockery。ManyatimeafterwardshadHesterbeentortured，thoughlessvividly，bythesameillusion。
Intheafternoonofacertainsummer’sday，afterPearlgrewbigenoughtorunabout，sheamusedherselfwithgatheringhandfulsofwild—flowers，andflingingthem，onebyone，athermother’sbosom；
dancingupanddown，likealittleelf，whenevershehitthescarletletter。Hester’sfirstmotionhadbeentocoverherbosomwithherclaspedhands。But，whetherfromprideorresignation，orafeelingthatherpenancemightbestbewroughtoutbythisunutterablepain，sheresistedtheimpulse，andsaterect，paleasdeath，lookingsadlyintolittlePearl’swildeyes。Stillcamethebatteryofflowers，almostinvariablyhittingthemark，andcoveringthemother’sbreastwithhurtsforwhichshecouldfindnobalminthisworld，norknewhowtoseekitinanother。Atlast，hershotbeingallexpended，thechildstoodstillandgazedatHester，withthatlittlelaughingimageofafiendpeepingout—or，whetheritpeepedorno，hermothersoimaginedit—fromtheunsearchableabyssofherblackeyes。
"Child，whatartthou？"criedthemother。
"Oh，IamyourlittlePearl！"answeredthechild。
But，whileshesaidit，Pearllaughed，andbegantodanceupanddown，withthehumorsomegesticulationofalittleimp，whosenextfreakmightbetoflyupthechimney。
"Artthoumychild，inverytruth？"askedHester。
Nordidsheputthequestionaltogetheridly，but，forthemoment，withaportionofgenuineearnestness；for，suchwasPearl’swonderfulintelligence，thathermotherhalfdoubtedwhethershewerenotacquaintedwiththesecretspellofherexistence，andmightnotnowrevealherself。
"Yes；IamlittlePearl！"repeatedthechild，continuingherantics。
"Thouartnotmychild！ThouartnoPearlofmine！"saidthemother，halfplayfully；foritwasoftenthecasethatasportiveimpulsecameoverher，inthemidstofherdeepestsuffering。"Tellme，then，whatthouart，andwhosenttheehither？"
"Tellme，mother！"saidthechildseriously，cominguptoHester，andpressingherselfclosetoherknees。"Dothoutellme！"
"ThyHeavenlyFathersentthee！"answeredHesterPrynne。
Butshesaiditwithahesitationthatdidnotescapetheacutenessofthechild。Whethermovedonlybyherordinaryfreakishness，orbecauseanevilspiritpromptedher，sheputuphersmallforefinger，andtouchedthescarletletter。
"Hedidnotsendme！"criedshepositively。"IhavenoHeavenlyFather！"
"Hush，Pearl，hush！Thoumustnottalkso！"answeredthemother，suppressingagroan。"Hesentusallintothisworld。Hesentevenme，thymother。Then，muchmore，thee！Or，ifnot，thoustrangeandelfishchild，whencedidstthoucome？"
"Tellme！Tellme！"repeatedPearl，nolongerseriously，butlaughing，andcaperingaboutthefloor。"Itisthouthatmusttellme！"
ButHestercouldnotresolvethequery，beingherselfinadismallabyrinthofdoubt。Sheremembered—betwixtasmileandashudder—thetalkoftheneighbouringtownspeople；who，seekingvainlyelsewhereforthechild’spaternity，andobservingsomeofheroldattributes，hadgivenoutthatpoorlittlePearlwasademonoffspring；suchas，eversinceoldCatholictimes，hadoccasionallybeenseer，onearth，throughtheagencyoftheirmother’ssin，andtopromotesomefoulandwickedpurpose。Luther，accordingtothescandalofhismonkishenemies，wasabratofthathellishbreed；norwasPearltheonlychildtowhomthisinauspiciousoriginwasassignedamongtheNewEnglandPuritans。
VII。
THEGOVERNOR’SHALL。
HESTERPRYNNEwent，oneday，tothemansionofGovernorBellingham，withapairofgloves，whichshehadfringedandembroideredtohisorder，andwhichweretobewornonsomegreatoccasionofstate；for，thoughthechancesofapopularelectionhadcausedthisformerrulertodescendasteportwofromthehighestrank，hestillheldanhonourableandinfluentialplaceamongthecolonialmagistracy。
AnotherandfarmoreimportantreasonthanthedeliveryofapairofembroideredglovesimpelledHester，atthistime，toseekaninterviewwithapersonageofsomuchpowerandactivityintheaffairsofthesettlement。Ithadreachedherears，thattherewasadesignonthepartofsomeoftheleadinginhabitants，cherishingthemorerigidorderofprinciplesinreligionandgovernment，todepriveherofherchild。OnthesuppositionthatPearl，asalreadyhinted，wasofdemonorigin，thesegoodpeoplenotunreasonablyarguedthataChristianinterestinthemother’ssoulrequiredthemtoremovesuchastumbling—blockfromherpath。Ifthechild，ontheotherhand，werereallycapableofmoralandreligiousgrowth，andpossessedtheelementsofultimatesalvation，then，surely，itwouldenjoyallthefairerprospectoftheseadvantages，bybeingtransferredtowiserandbetterguardianshipthanHesterPrynne’s。Amongthosewhopromotedthedesign，GovernorBellinghamwassaidtobeoneofthemostbusy。Itmayappearsingular，and，indeed，notalittleludicrous，thatanaffairofthiskind，which，inlaterdays，wouldhavebeenreferredtonohigherjurisdictionthanthatoftheselectmenofthetown，shouldthenhavebeenaquestionpubliclydiscussed，andonwhichstatesmenofeminencetooksides。Atthatepochofpristinesimplicity，however，mattersofevenslighterpublicinterest，andoffarlessintrinsicweight，thanthewelfareofHesterandherchild，werestrangelymixedupwiththedeliberationsoflegislatorsandactsofstate。Theperiodwashardly，ifatall，earlierthanthatofourstory，whenadisputeconcerningtherightofpropertyinapig，notonlycausedafierceandbittercontestinthelegislativebodyofthecolony，butresultedinanimportantmodificationoftheframeworkitselfofthelegislature。
Fullofconcern，therefore—butsoconsciousofherownrightthatitseemedscarcelyanunequalmatchbetweenthepublic，ontheoneside，andalonelywoman，backedbythesympathiesofnature，ontheother—HesterPrynnesetforthfromhersolitarycottage。LittlePearl，ofcourse，washercompanion。Shewasnowofanagetorunlightlyalongbyhermother’sside，and，constantlyinmotion，frommorntillsunset，couldhaveaccomplishedamuchlongerjourneythanthatbeforeher。Often，nevertheless，morefromcapricethannecessity，shedemandedtobetakenupinarms；butwassoonasimperioustobesetdownagain，andfriskedonwardbeforeHesteronthegrassypathway，withmanyaharmlesstripandtumble。WehavespokenofPearl’srichandluxuriantbeauty；abeautythatshonewithdeepandvividtints；abrightcomplexion，eyespossessingintensitybothofdepthandglow，andhairalreadyofadeep，glossybrown，andwhich，inafteryears，wouldbenearlyakintoblack。Therewasfireinherandthroughouther；sheseemedtheunpremeditatedoffshootofapassionatemoment。Hermother，incontrivingthechild’sgarb，hadallowedthegorgeoustendenciesofherimaginationtheirfullplay；arrayingherinacrimsonvelvettunic，ofapeculiarcut，abundantlyembroideredwithfantasiesandflourishesofgoldthread。Somuchstrengthofcolouring，whichmusthavegivenawanandpallidaspecttocheeksofafainterbloom，wasadmirablyadaptedtoPearl’sbeauty，andmadehertheverybrightestlittlejetofflamethateverdancedupontheearth。
Butitwasaremarkableattributeofthisgarb，and，indeed，ofthechild’swholeappearance，thatitirresistiblyandinevitablyremindedthebeholderofthetokenwhichHesterPrynnewasdoomedtowearuponherbosom。Itwasthescarletletterinanotherform；thescarletletterendowedwithlife！Themotherherself—asiftheredignominyweresodeeplyscorchedintoherbrainthatallherconceptionsassumeditsform—hadcarefullywroughtoutthesimilitude；lavishingmanyhoursofmorbidingenuity，tocreateananalogybetweentheobjectofheraffectionandtheemblemofherguiltandtorture。But，intruth，Pearlwastheone，aswellastheother；andonlyinconsequenceofthatidentityhadHestercontrivedsoperfectlytorepresentthescarletletterinherappearance。
Asthetwowayfarerscamewithintheprecinctsofthetown，thechildrenofthePuritanslookedupfromtheirplay—orwhatpassedforplaywiththosesombrelittleurchins—andspakegravelyonetoanother—
"Behold，verily，thereisthewomanofthescarletletter；and，ofatruth，moreover，thereisthelikenessofthescarletletterrunningalongbyherside！Come，therefore，andletusflingmudatthem！"
ButPearl，whowasadauntlesschild，afterfrowning，stampingherfoot，andshakingherlittlehandwithavarietyofthreateninggestures，suddenlymadearushattheknotofherenemies，andputthemalltoflight。Sheresembled，inherfiercepursuitofthem，aninfantpestilence—thescarletfever，orsomesuchhalf—fledgedangelofjudgment—whosemissionwastopunishthesinsoftherisinggeneration。Shescreamedandshouted，too，withaterrificvolumeofsound，which，doubtless，causedtheheartsofthefugitivestoquakewithinthem。Thevictoryaccomplished，Pearlreturnedquietlytohermother，andlookedup，smiling，intoherface。
Withoutfurtheradventure，theyreachedthedwellingofGovernorBellingham。Thiswasalargewoodenhouse，builtinafashionofwhichtherearespecimensstillextantinthestreetsofoureldertowns；
nowmoss—grown，crumblingtodecay，andmelancholyatheartwiththemanysorrowfulorjoyfuloccurrences，rememberedorforgotten，thathavehappened，andpassedaway，withintheirduskychambers。Then，however，therewasthefreshnessofthepassingyearonitsexterior，andthecheerfulness，gleamingforthfromthesunnywindows，ofahumanhabitation，intowhichdeathhadneverentered。Ithad，indeed，averycheeryaspect；thewallsbeingoverspreadwithakindofstucco，inwhichfragmentsofbrokenglasswereintermixed；sothat，whenthesunshinefellaslant—wiseoverthefrontoftheedifice，itglitteredandsparkledasifdiamondshadbeenflungagainstitbythedoublehandful。ThebrilliancymighthavebefittedAladdin’spalace，ratherthanthemansionofagraveoldPuritanruler。Itwasfurtherdecoratedwithstrangeandseeminglycabalisticfiguresanddiagrams，suitabletothequainttasteoftheage，whichhadbeendrawninthestuccowhennewlylaidon，andhadnowgrownhardanddurable，fortheadmirationofaftertimes。
Pearl，lookingatthisbrightwonderofahouse，begantocaperanddance，andimperativelyrequiredthatthewholebreadthofsunshineshouldbestrippedoffitsfront，andgivenhertoplaywith。
"No，mylittlePearl！"saidhermother。"Thoumustgatherthineownsunshine。Ihavenonetogivethee！"
Theyapproachedthedoor；whichwasofanarchedform，andflankedoneachsidebyanarrowtowerorprojectionoftheedifice，inbothofwhichwerelattice—windows，withwoodenshutterstocloseoverthematneed。Liftingtheironhammerthathungattheportal，HesterPrynnegaveasummons，whichwasansweredbyoneoftheGovernor’sbond—servants；afree—bornEnglishman，butnowasevenyears’slave。
Duringthattermhewastobethepropertyofhismaster，andasmuchacommodityofbargainandsaleasanox，orajoint—stool。Theserfworethebluecoat，whichwasthecustomarygarbofserving—menatthatperiod，andlongbefore，intheoldhereditaryhallsofEngland。
"IstheworshipfulGovernorBellinghamwithin？"inquiredHester。
"Yea，forsooth，"repliedthebond—servant，staringwithwide—openeyesatthescarletletter，which，beinganew—comerinthecountry，hehadneverbeforeseen。"Yea，hishonourableworshipiswithin。
Buthehathagodlyministerortwowithhim，andlikewisealeech。Yemaynotseehisworshipnow。"
"Nevertheless，Iwillenter，"answeredHesterPrynne；andthebond—servant，perhapsjudgingfromthedecisionofherair，andtheglitteringsymbolinherbosom，thatshewasagreatladyintheland，offerednoopposition。
SothemotherandlittlePearlwereadmittedintothehallofentrance。Withmanyvariations，suggestedbythenatureofhisbuilding—materials，diversityofclimate，andadifferentmodeofsociallife，GovernorBellinghamhadplannedhisnewhabitationaftertheresidencesofgentlemenoffairestateinhisnativeland。
Here，then，wasawideandreasonablyloftyhall，extendingthroughthewholedepthofthehouseandformingamediumofgeneralcommunication，moreorlessdirectly，withalltheotherapartments。
Atoneextremity，thisspaciousroomwaslightedbythewindowsofthetwotowers，whichformedasmallrecessoneithersideoftheportal。Attheotherend，thoughpartlymuffledbyacurtain，itwasmorepowerfullyilluminatedbyoneofthoseembowedhall—windowswhichwereadofinoldbooks，andwhichwasprovidedwithakeepandcushionedseat。Here，onthecushion，layafoliotome，probablyoftheChroniclesofEngland，orothersuchsubstantialliterature；
evenas，inourowndays，wescattergildedvolumesonthecentre—table，tobeturnedoverbythecasualguest。Thefurnitureofthehallconsistedofsomeponderouschairs，thebacksofwhichwereelaboratelycarvedwithwreathsofoakenflowers；andlikewiseatableinthesametaste；thewholebeingoftheElizabethanage，orperhapsearlier，andheirlooms，transferredhitherfromtheGovernor’spaternalhome。Onthetable—intokenthatthesentimentofoldEnglishhospitalityhadnotbeenleftbehind—stoodalargepewtertankard，atthebottomofwhich，hadHesterorPearlpeepedintoit，theymighthaveseenthefrothyremnantofarecentdraughtofale。
Onthewallhungarowofportraits，representingtheforefathersoftheBellinghamlineage，somewitharmourontheirbreasts，andotherswithstatelyruffsandrobesofpeace。Allwerecharacterisedbythesternnessandseveritywhicholdportraitssoinvariablyputon；asiftheyweretheghosts，ratherthanthepictures，ofdepartedworthies，andweregazingwithharshandintolerantcriticismatthepursuitsandenjoymentsoflivingmen。
Ataboutthecentreoftheoakenpanels，thatlinedthehall，wassuspendedasuitofmail，not，likethepictures，anancestralrelic，butofthemostmoderndate；forithadbeenmanufacturedbyaskilfularmourerinLondon，thesameyearinwhichGovernorBellinghamcameovertoNewEngland。Therewasasteelheadpiece，acuirass，agorget，andgreaves，withapairofgauntletsandaswordhangingbeneath；all，andespeciallythehelmetandbreastplate，sohighlyburnishedastoglowwithwhiteradiance，andscatteranilluminationeverywhereaboutuponthefloor。Thisbrightpanoplywasnotmeantformereidleshow，buthadbeenwornbytheGovernoronmanyasolemnmusterandtrainingfield，andhadglittered，moreover，attheheadofaregimentinthePequodwar。For，thoughbredalawyer，andaccustomedtospeakofBacon，Coke，Noye，andFinch，ashisprofessionalassociates，theexigenciesofthisnewcountryhadtransformedGovernorBellinghamintoasoldier，aswellasastatesmanandruler。