\"Yousaytruly，\"repliedtheother。\"Iamastranger，andhavebeenawanderer，sorelyagainstmywill。Ihavemetwithgrievousmishapsbyseaandland，andhavebeenlongheldinbondsamongtheheathenfolk，tothesouthward；andamnowbroughthitherbythisIndian，toberedeemedoutofmycaptivity。Willitpleaseyou，therefore，totellmeofHesterPrynne’s—haveIhernamerightly？—ofthiswoman’soffences，andwhathasbroughthertoyonderscaffold？\"
\"Truly，friend；andmethinksitmustgladdenyourheart，afteryourtroublesandsojourninthewilderness，\"saidthetownsman，\"tofindyourself，atlength，inalandwhereiniquityissearchedout，andpunishedinthesightofrulersandpeople；ashereinourgodlyNewEngland。Yonderwoman，sir，youmustknow，wasthewifeofacertainlearnedman，Englishbybirth，butwhohadlongdweltinAmsterdam，whence，somegoodtimeagone，hewasmindedtocrossoverandcastinhislotwithusoftheMassachusetts。Tothispurpose，hesenthiswifebeforehim，remaininghimselftolookaftersomenecessaryaffairs。Marry，goodsir，insometwoyears，orless，thatthewomanhasbeenadwellerhereinBoston，notidingshavecomeofthislearnedgentleman，MasterPrynne；andhisyoungwife，lookyou，beinglefttoherownmisguidance—\"
\"Ah！—aha！—Iconceiveyou，\"saidthestranger，withabittersmile。
\"Solearnedamanasyouspeakofshouldhavelearnedthis，too，inhisbooks。Andwho，byyourfavour，sir，maybethefatherofyonderbabe—itissomethreeorfourmonthsold，Ishouldjudge—whichMistressPrynneisholdinginherarms？\"
\"Ofatruth，friend，thatmatterremainethariddle；andtheDanielwhoshallexpounditisyeta—wanting，\"answeredthetownsman。\"MadamHesterabsolutelyrefusethtospeak，andthemagistrateshavelaidtheirheadstogetherinvain。Peradventuretheguiltyonestandslookingonatthissadspectacle，unknownofman，andforgettingthatGodseeshim。\"
\"Thelearnedman，\"observedthestranger，withanothersmile，\"shouldcomehimself，tolookintothemystery。\"
\"Itbehooveshimwell，ifhebestillinlife，\"respondedthetownsman。\"Now，goodsir，ourMassachusettsmagistracy，bethinkingthemselvesthatthiswomanisyouthfulandfair，anddoubtlesswasstronglytemptedtoherfall—andthat，moreover，asismostlikely，herhusbandmaybeatthebottomofthesea—theyhavenotbeenboldtoputinforcetheextremityofourrighteouslawagainsther。Thepenaltythereofisdeath。Butintheirgreatmercyandtendernessofheart，theyhavedoomedMistressPrynnetostandonlyaspaceofthreehoursontheplatformofthepillory，andthenandthereafter，fortheremainderofhernaturallife，towearamarkofshameuponherbosom。\"
\"Awisesentence！\"remarkedthestranger，gravelybowinghishead。
\"Thusshewillbealivingsermonagainstsin，untiltheignominiousletterbeengraveduponhertombstone。Itirksme，nevertheless，thatthepartnerofheriniquityshouldnot，atleast，standonthescaffoldbyherside。Buthewillbeknown！—hewillbeknown！—hewillbeknown！\"
Hebowedcourteouslytothecommunicativetownsman，and，whisperingafewwordstohisIndianattendant，theybothmadetheirwaythroughthecrowd。
Whilethispassed，HesterPrynnehadbeenstandingonherpedestal，stillwithafixedgazetowardsthestranger；sofixedagazethat，atmomentsofintenseabsorption，allotherobjectsinthevisibleworldseemedtovanish，leavingonlyhimandher。Suchaninterview，perhaps，wouldhavebeenmoreterriblethaneventomeethimasshenowdid，withthehot，mid—daysunburningdownuponherface，andlightingupitsshame；withthescarlettokenofinfamyonherbreast；withthesin—borninfantinherarms；withawholepeople，drawnforthastoafestival，staringatthefeaturesthatshouldhavebeenseenonlyinthequietgleamofthefireside，inthehappyshadowofahome，orbeneathamatronlyveil，atchurch。Dreadfulasitwas，shewasconsciousofashelterinthepresenceofthesethousandwitnesses。Itwasbettertostandthus，withsomanybetwixthimandher，thantogreethim，facetoface，theytwoalone。Shefledforrefuge，asitwere，tothepublicexposure，anddreadedthemomentwhenitsprotectionshouldbewithdrawnfromher。
Involvedinthesethoughts，shescarcelyheardavoicebehindher，untilithadrepeatedhernamemorethanonce，inaloudandsolemntone，audibletothewholemultitude。
\"Hearkenuntome，HesterPrynne！\"saidthevoice。
Ithasalreadybeennoticed，thatdirectlyovertheplatformonwhichHesterPrynnestoodwasakindofbalcony，oropengallery，appendedtothemeeting—house。Itwastheplacewhenceproclamationswerewonttobemade，amidstanassemblageofthemagistracy，withalltheceremonialthatattendedsuchpublicobservancesinthosedays。
Here，towitnessthescenewhichwearedescribing，satGovernorBellinghamhimself，withfoursergeantsabouthischair，bearinghalberds，asaguardofhonour。Heworeadarkfeatherinhishat，aborderofembroideryonhiscloak，andablackvelvettunicbeneath；agentlemanadvancedinyears，withahardexperiencewritteninhiswrinkles。Hewasnotillfittedtobetheheadandrepresentativeofacommunity，whichoweditsoriginandprogress，anditspresentstateofdevelopment，nottotheimpulsesofyouth，buttothesternandtemperedenergiesofmanhood，andthesombresagacityofage；
accomplishingsomuch，preciselybecauseitimaginedandhopedsolittle。Theothereminentcharacters，bywhomthechiefrulerwassurrounded，weredistinguishedbyadignityofmien，belongingtoaperiodwhentheformsofauthoritywerefelttopossessthesacrednessofDivineinstitutions。Theywere，doubtless，goodmen，just，andsage。But，outofthewholehumanfamily，itwouldnothavebeeneasytoselectthesamenumberofwiseandvirtuouspersons，whoshouldbelesscapableofsittinginjudgmentonanerringwoman’sheart，anddisentanglingitsmeshofgoodandevil，thanthesagesofrigidaspecttowardswhomHesterPrynnenowturnedherface。Sheseemedconscious，indeed，thatwhateversympathyshemightexpect，layinthelargerandwarmerheartofthemultitude；for，assheliftedhereyestowardsthebalcony，theunhappywomangrewpaleandtrembled。
ThevoicewhichhadcalledherattentionwasthatofthereverendandfamousJohnWilson，theeldestclergymanofBoston，agreatscholar，likemostofhiscontemporariesintheprofession，andwithalamanofkindandgenialspirit。Thislastattribute，however，hadbeenlesscarefullydevelopedthanhisintellectualgifts，andwas，intruth，ratheramatterofshamethanself—congratulationwithhim。
Therehestood，withaborderofgrizzledlocksbeneathhisskull—cap；
whilehisgreyeyes，accustomedtotheshadedlightofhisstudy，werewinking，likethoseofHester’sinfant，intheunadulteratedsunshine。
Helookedlikethedarklyengravedportraitswhichweseeprefixedtooldvolumesofsermons；andhadnomorerightthanoneofthoseportraitswouldhave，tostepforth，ashenowdid，andmeddlewithaquestionofhumanguilt，passion，andanguish。
\"HesterPrynne，\"saidtheclergyman，\"Ihavestrivenwithmyyoungbrotherhere，underwhosepreachingoftheWordyouhavebeenprivilegedtosit\"—hereMr。Wilsonlaidhishandontheshoulderofapaleyoungmanbesidehim—\"Ihavesought，Isay，topersuadethisgodlyyouth，thatheshoulddealwithyou，hereinthefaceofHeaven，andbeforethesewiseanduprightrulers，andinhearingofallthepeople，astouchingthevilenessandblacknessofyoursin。KnowingyournaturaltemperbetterthanI，hecouldthebetterjudgewhatargumentstouse，whetheroftendernessorterror，suchasmightprevailoveryourhardnessandobstinacy；insomuchthatyoushouldnolongerhidethenameofhimwhotemptedyoutothisgrievousfall。Butheopposestome（withayoungman’sover—softness，albeitwisebeyondhisyears）thatitwerewrongingtheverynatureofwomantoforcehertolayopenherheart’ssecretsinsuchbroaddaylight，andinpresenceofsogreatamultitude。Truly，asI
soughttoconvincehim，theshamelayinthecommissionofthesin，andnotintheshowingofitforth。Whatsayyoutoit，onceagain，brotherDimmesdale！Mustitbethou，orI，thatshalldealwiththispoorsinner’ssoul？\"
Therewasamurmuramongthedignifiedandreverendoccupantsofthebalcony；andGovernorBellinghamgaveexpressiontoitspurport，speakinginanauthoritativevoice，althoughtemperedwithrespecttowardstheyouthfulclergymanwhomheaddressed。
\"GoodMasterDimmesdale，\"saidhe，\"theresponsibilityofthiswoman’ssoulliesgreatlywithyou。Itbehoovesyou，therefore，toexhorthertorepentance，andtoconfession，asaproofandconsequencethereof。\"
ThedirectnessofthisappealdrewtheeyesofthewholecrowdupontheReverendMr。Dimmesdale；ayoungclergyman，whohadcomefromoneofthegreatEnglishuniversities，bringingallthelearningoftheageintoourwildforest—land。Hiseloquenceandreligiousfervourhadalreadygiventheearnestofhigheminenceinhisprofession。Hewasapersonofverystrikingaspect，withawhite，lofty，andimpendingbrow，large，brown，melancholyeyes，andamouthwhich，unlesswhenheforciblycompressedit，wasapttobetremulous，expressingbothnervoussensibilityandavastpowerofself—restraint。Notwithstandinghishighnativegiftsandscholar—likeattainments，therewasanairaboutthisyoungminister—anapprehensive，astartled，ahalf—frightenedlook—asofabeingwhofelthimselfquiteastrayandatalossinthepathwayofhumanexistence，andcouldonlybeateaseinsomeseclusionofhisown。
Therefore，sofarashisdutieswouldpermit，hetrodintheshadowybypaths，andthuskepthimselfsimpleandchildlike；comingforth，whenoccasionwas，withafreshness，andfragrance，anddewypurityofthought，which，asmanypeoplesaid，affectedthemlikethespeechofanangel。
SuchwastheyoungmanwhomtheReverendMr。WilsonandtheGovernorhadintroducedsoopenlytothepublicnotice，biddinghimspeak，inthehearingofallmen，tothatmysteryofawoman’ssoul，sosacredeveninitspollution。Thetryingnatureofhispositiondrovethebloodfromhischeek，andmadehislipstremulous。
\"Speaktothewoman，mybrother，\"saidMr。Wilson。\"Itisofmomenttohersoul，andtherefore，astheworshipfulGovernorsays，momentoustothineown，inwhosechargehersis。Exhorthertoconfessthetruth！\"
TheReverendMr。Dimmesdalebenthishead，insilentprayer，asitseemed，andthencameforward。
\"HesterPrynne，\"saidhe，leaningoverthebalcony，andlookingdownsteadfastlyintohereyes，\"thouhearestwhatthisgoodmansays，andseesttheaccountabilityunderwhichIlabour。Ifthoufeelestittobeforthysoul’speace，andthatthyearthlypunishmentwilltherebybemademoreeffectualtosalvation，Ichargetheetospeakoutthenameofthyfellow—sinnerandfellow—sufferer！Benotsilentfromanymistakenpityandtendernessforhim；forbelieveme，Hester，thoughheweretostepdownfromahighplace，andstandtherebesidethee，onthypedestalofshame，yetbetterwereitso，thantohideaguiltyheartthroughlife。Whatcanthysilencedoforhim，exceptittempthim—yea，compelhim，asitwere—toaddhypocrisytosin？Heavenhathgrantedtheeanopenignominy，thattherebythoumayestworkoutanopentriumphovertheevilwithinthee，andthesorrowwithout。Takeheedhowthoudeniesttohim—
who，perchance，hathnotthecouragetograspitforhimself—thebitter，butwholesome，cupthatisnowpresentedtothylips！\"
Theyoungpastor’svoicewastremulouslysweet，rich，deep，andbroken。Thefeelingthatitsoevidentlymanifested，ratherthanthedirectpurportofthewords，causedittovibratewithinallhearts，andbroughtthelistenersintooneaccordofsympathy。Eventhepoorbaby，atHester’sbosom，wasaffectedbythesameinfluence；foritdirecteditshithertovacantgazetowardsMr。Dimmesdale，andheldupitslittlearms，withahalf—pleased，half—plaintivemurmur。Sopowerfulseemedtheminister’sappeal，thatthepeoplecouldnotbelievebutthatHesterPrynnewouldspeakouttheguiltyname；orelsethattheguiltyonehimself，inwhateverhighorlowlyplacehestood，wouldbedrawnforthbyaninwardandinevitablenecessity，andcompelledtoascendthescaffold。
Hestershookherhead。
\"Woman，transgressnotbeyondthelimitsofHeaven’smercy！\"criedtheReverendMr。Wilson，moreharshlythanbefore。\"Thatlittlebabehathbeengiftedwithavoice，tosecondandconfirmthecounselwhichthouhastheard。Speakoutthename！That，andthyrepentance，mayavailtotakethescarletletteroffthybreast。\"
\"Never！\"repliedHesterPrynne，looking，notatMr。Wilson，butintothedeepandtroubledeyesoftheyoungerclergyman。\"Itistoodeeplybranded。Yecannottakeitoff。AndwouldthatImightendurehisagony，aswellasmine！\"
\"Speak，woman！\"saidanothervoice，coldlyandsternly，proceedingfromthecrowdaboutthescaffold。\"Speak；andgiveyourchildafather！\"
\"Iwillnotspeak！\"answeredHester，turningpaleasdeath，butrespondingtothisvoice，whichshetoosurelyrecognized。\"AndmychildmustseekaheavenlyFather；sheshallneverknowanearthlyone！\"
\"Shewillnotspeak！\"murmuredMr。Dimmesdale，who，leaningoverthebalcony，withhishanduponhisheart，hadawaitedtheresultofhisappeal。Henowdrewback，withalongrespiration。\"Wondrousstrengthandgenerosityofawoman’sheart！Shewillnotspeak！\"
Discerningtheimpractiblestateofthepoorculprit’smind，theelderclergyman，whohadcarefullypreparedhimselffortheoccasion，addressedtothemultitudeadiscourseonsin，inallitsbranches，butwithcontinualreferencetotheignominiousletter。Soforciblydidhedwelluponthissymbol，forthehourormoreduringwhichhisperiodswererollingoverthepeople’sheads，thatitassumednewterrorsintheirimagination，andseemedtoderiveitsscarlethuefromtheflamesoftheinfernalpit。HesterPrynne，meanwhile，keptherplaceuponthepedestalofshame，withglazedeyes，andanairofwearyindifference。Shehadborne，thatmorning，allthatnaturecouldendure；andashertemperamentwasnotoftheorderthatescapesfromtoointensesufferingbyaswoon，herspiritcouldonlyshelteritselfbeneathastonycrustofinsensibility，whilethefacultiesofanimalliferemainedentire。Inthisstate，thevoiceofthepreacherthunderedremorselessly，butunavailingly，uponherears。Theinfant，duringthelatterportionofherordeal，piercedtheairwithitswailingsandscreams；shestrovetohushit，mechanically，butseemedscarcelytosympathisewithitstrouble。Withthesameharddemeanour，shewasledbacktoprison，andvanishedfromthepublicgazewithinitsiron—clampedportal。Itwaswhispered，bythosewhopeeredafterher，thatthescarletletterthrewaluridgleamalongthedarkpassage—wayoftheinterior。
IV。
THEINTERVIEW。
AFTERherreturntotheprison，HesterPrynnewasfoundtobeinastateofnervousexcitementthatdemandedconstantwatchfulness，lestsheshouldperpetrateviolenceonherself，ordosomehalf—frenziedmischieftothepoorbabe。Asnightapproached，itprovingimpossibletoquellherinsubordinationbyrebukeorthreatsofpunishment，MasterBrackett，thejailer，thoughtfittointroduceaphysician。HedescribedhimasamanofskillinallChristianmodesofphysicalscience，andlikewisefamiliarwithwhateverthesavagepeoplecouldteach，inrespecttomedicinalherbsandrootsthatgrewintheforest。Tosaythetruth，therewasmuchneedofprofessionalassistance，notmerelyforHesterherself，butstillmoreurgentlyforthechild；who，drawingitssustenancefromthematernalbosom，seemedtohavedrankinwithitalltheturmoil，theanguishanddespair，whichpervadedthemother’ssystem。Itnowwrithedinconvulsionsofpain，andwasaforcibletype，initslittleframe，ofthemoralagonywhichHesterPrynnehadbornethroughouttheday。
Closelyfollowingthejailerintothedismalapartment，appearedthatindividualofsingularaspect，whosepresenceinthecrowdhadbeenofsuchdeepinteresttothewearerofthescarletletter。Hewaslodgedintheprison，notassuspectedofanyoffence，butasthemostconvenientandsuitablemodeofdisposingofhim，untilthemagistratesshouldhaveconferredwiththeIndiansagamoresrespectinghisransom。HisnamewasannouncedasRogerChillingworth。Thejailer，afterusheringhimintotheroom，remainedamoment，marvellingatthecomparativequietthatfollowedhisentrance；forHesterPrynnehadimmediatelybecomeasstillasdeath，althoughthechildcontinuedtomoan。
\"Prithee，friend，leavemealonewithmypatient，\"saidthepractitioner。\"Trustme，goodjailer，youshallbrieflyhavepeaceinyourhouse；and，Ipromiseyou，MistressPrynneshallhereafterbemoreamenabletojustauthoritythanyoumayhavefoundherheretofore。\"
\"Nay，ifyourworshipcanaccomplishthat，\"answeredMasterBrackett，\"Ishallownyouforamanofskillindeed！Verily，thewomanhathbeenlikeapossessedone；andtherelackslittle，thatI
shouldtakeinhandtodriveSatanoutofherwithstripes。\"
Thestrangerhadenteredtheroomwiththecharacteristicquietudeoftheprofessiontowhichheannouncedhimselfasbelonging。Nordidhisdemeanourchange，whenthewithdrawaloftheprisonkeeperlefthimfacetofacewiththewoman，whoseabsorbednoticeofhim，inthecrowd，hadintimatedsoclosearelationbetweenhimselfandher。Hisfirstcarewasgiventothechild；whosecries，indeed，asshelaywrithingonthetrundle—bed，madeitofperemptorynecessitytopostponeallotherbusinesstothetaskofsoothingher。Heexaminedtheinfantcarefully，andthenproceededtounclaspaleatherncase，whichhetookfrombeneathhisdress。Itappearedtocontainmedicalpreparations，oneofwhichhemingledwithacupofwater。
\"Myoldstudiesinalchemy，\"observedhe，\"andmysojourn，foraboveayearpast，amongapeoplewellversedinthekindlypropertiesofsimples，havemadeabetterphysicianofmethanmanythatclaimthemedicaldegree。Here，woman！Thechildisyours—sheisnoneofmine—neitherwillsherecognisemyvoiceoraspectasafather’s。
Administerthisdraught，therefore，withthineownhand。\"
Hesterrepelledtheofferedmedicine，atthesametimegazingwithstronglymarkedapprehensionintohisface。
\"Wouldstthouavengethyselfontheinnocentbabe？\"whisperedshe。
\"Foolishwoman！\"respondedthephysician，halfcoldly，halfsoothingly。\"Whatshouldailme，toharmthismisbegottenandmiserablebabe？Themedicineispotentforgood；andwereitmychild—
yea，mineown，aswellasthine！—Icoulddonobetterforit。\"
Asshestillhesitated，being，infact，innoreasonablestateofmind，hetooktheinfantinhisarms，andhimselfadministeredthedraught。Itsoonproveditsefficacy，andredeemedtheleech’spledge。
Themoansofthelittlepatientsubsided；itsconvulsivetossingsgraduallyceased；and，inafewmoments，asisthecustomofyoungchildrenafterrelieffrompain，itsankintoaprofoundanddewyslumber。Thephysician，ashehadafairrighttobetermed，nextbestowedhisattentiononthemother。Withcalmandintentscrutiny，hefeltherpulse，lookedintohereyes—agazethatmadeherheartshrinkandshudder，becausesofamiliar，andyetsostrangeandcold—and，finally，satisfiedwithhisinvestigation，proceededtomingleanotherdraught。
\"IknownotLethenorNepenthe，\"remarkedhe；\"butIhavelearnedmanynewsecretsinthewilderness，andhereisoneofthem—arecipethatanIndiantaughtme，inrequitalofsomelessonsofmyown，thatwereasoldasParacelsus。Drinkit！Itmaybelesssoothingthanasinlessconscience。ThatIcannotgivethee。Butitwillcalmtheswellandheavingofthypassion，likeoilthrownonthewavesofatempestuoussea。\"
HepresentedthecuptoHester，whoreceiveditwithaslow，earnestlookintohisface；notpreciselyalookoffear，yetfullofdoubtandquestioning，astowhathispurposesmightbe。Shelookedalsoatherslumberingchild。
\"Ihavethoughtofdeath，\"saidshe—\"havewishedforit—wouldevenhaveprayedforit，wereitfitthatsuchasIshouldprayforanything。Yet，ifdeathbeinthiscup，Ibidtheethinkagain，erethoubeholdestmequaffit。See！Itisevennowatmylips。\"
\"Drink，then，\"repliedhe，stillwiththesamecoldcomposure。\"Dostthouknowmesolittle，HesterPrynne？Aremypurposeswonttobesoshallow？EvenifIimagineaschemeofvengeance，whatcouldIdobetterformyobjectthantolettheelive—thantogivetheemedicinesagainstallharmandperiloflife—sothatthisburningshamemaystillblazeuponthybosom！\"Ashespoke，helaidhislongforefingeronthescarletletter，whichforthwithseemedtoscorchintoHester’sbreast，asifithadbeenred—hot。Henoticedherinvoluntarygesture，andsmiled。\"Live，therefore，andbearaboutthydoomwiththee，intheeyesofmenandwomen—intheeyesofhimwhomthoudidstcallthyhusband—intheeyesofyonderchild！And，thatthoumayestlive，takeoffthisdraught。\"
Withoutfurtherexpostulationordelay，HesterPrynnedrainedthecup，and，atthemotionofthemanofskill，seatedherselfonthebedwherethechildwassleeping；whilehedrewtheonlychairwhichtheroomafforded，andtookhisownseatbesideher。Shecouldnotbuttrembleatthesepreparations；forshefeltthat—havingnowdoneallthathumanity，orprinciple，or，ifsoitwere，arefinedcruelty，impelledhimtodo，forthereliefofphysicalsuffering—hewasnexttotreatwithherasthemanwhomshehadmostdeeplyandirreparablyinjured。
\"Hester，\"saidhe，\"Iasknotwherefore，norhow，thouhastfallenintothepit，orsay，rather，thouhastascendedtothepedestalofinfamy，onwhichIfoundthee。Thereasonisnotfartoseek。Itwasmyfolly，andthyweakness。I—amanofthought—thebookwormofgreatlibraries—amanalreadyindecay，havinggivenmybestyearstofeedthehungrydreamofknowledge—whathadItodowithyouthandbeautylikethineown！Misshapenfrommybirth—hour，howcouldI
deludemyselfwiththeideathatintellectualgiftsmightveilphysicaldeformityinayounggirl’sfantasy！Mencallmewise。Ifsageswereeverwiseintheirownbehoof，Imighthaveforeseenallthis。Imighthaveknownthat，asIcameoutofthevastanddismalforest，andenteredthissettlementofChristianmen，theveryfirstobjecttomeetmyeyeswouldbethyself，HesterPrynne，standingup，astatueofignominy，beforethepeople。Nay，fromthemomentwhenwecamedowntheoldchurchstepstogether，amarriedpair，Imighthavebeheldthebale—fireofthatscarletletterblazingattheendofourpath！\"
\"Thouknowest，\"saidHester—for，depressedasshewas，shecouldnotendurethislastquietstabatthetokenofhershame—\"thouknowestthatIwasfrankwiththee。Ifeltnolove，norfeignedany。\"
\"True，\"repliedhe。\"Itwasmyfolly！Ihavesaidit。But，uptothatepochofmylife，Ihadlivedinvain。Theworldhadbeensocheerless！Myheartwasahabitationlargeenoughformanyguests，butlonelyandchill，andwithoutahouseholdfire。Ilongedtokindleone！Itseemednotsowildadream—oldasIwas，andsombreasIwas，andmisshapenasIwas—thatthesimplebliss，whichisscatteredfarandwide，forallmankindtogatherup，mightyetbemine。Andso，Hester，Idrewtheeintomyheart，intoitsinnermostchamber，andsoughttowarmtheebythewarmthwhichthypresencemadethere！\"
\"Ihavegreatlywrongedthee，\"murmuredHester。
\"Wehavewrongedeachother，\"answeredhe。\"Minewasthefirstwrong，whenIbetrayedthybuddingyouthintoafalseandunnaturalrelationwithmydecay。Therefore，asamanwhohasnotthoughtandphilosophisedinvain，Iseeknovengeance，plotnoevilagainstthee。
Betweentheeandmethescalehangsfairlybalanced。But，Hester，themanliveswhohaswrongedusboth！Whoishe？\"
\"Askmenot！\"repliedHesterPrynne，lookingfirmlyintohisface。
\"Thatthoushaltneverknow！\"
\"Never，sayestthou？\"rejoinedhe，withasmileofdarkandself—relyingintelligence。\"Neverknowhim！Believeme，Hester，therearefewthings—whetherintheoutwardworld，or，toacertaindepth，intheinvisiblesphereofthought—fewthingshiddenfromthemanwhodevoteshimselfearnestlyandunreservedlytothesolutionofamystery。Thoumayestcoverupthysecretfromthepryingmultitude。Thoumayestconcealit，too，fromtheministersandmagistrates，evenasthoudidstthisday，whentheysoughttowrenchthenameoutofthyheart，andgivetheeapartneronthypedestal。
But，asforme，Icometotheinquestwithothersensesthantheypossess。Ishallseekthisman，asIhavesoughttruthinbooks；asIhavesoughtgoldinalchemy。Thereisasympathythatwillmakemeconsciousofhim。Ishallseehimtremble。Ishallfeelmyselfshudder，suddenlyandunawares。Soonerorlater，hemustneedsbemine！\"
Theeyesofthewrinkledscholarglowedsointenselyuponher，thatHesterPrynneclaspedherhandsoverherheart，dreadinglestheshouldreadthesecretthereatonce。
\"Thouwiltnotrevealhisname？Notthelessheismine，\"resumedhe，withalookofconfidence，asifdestinywereatonewithhim。\"Hebearsnoletterofinfamywroughtintohisgarment，asthoudost；
butIshallreaditonhisheart。Yetfearnotforhim！ThinknotthatIshallinterferewithHeaven’sownmethodofretribution，or，tomyownloss，betrayhimtothegripeofhumanlaw。NeitherdothouimaginethatIshallcontriveaughtagainsthislife；no，noragainsthisfame，if，asIjudge，hebeamanoffairrepute。Lethimlive！Lethimhidehimselfinoutwardhonour，ifhemay！Notthelessheshallbemine！\"
\"Thyactsarelikemercy，\"saidHester，bewilderedandappalled。
\"Butthywordsinterprettheeasaterror！\"
