红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第14章

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he　scarlet　letter　on　Hester'sbosom！　One　day；　as　her　mother　stooped　over　the　cradle；　the　infant'seyes　had　been　caught　by　the　glimmering　of　the　gold　embroidery　aboutthe　letter；　and；　putting　up　her　little　hand；　she　grasped　at　it；smiling；　not　doubtfully；　but　with　a　decided　gleam；　that　gave　herface　the　look　of　a　much　older　child。　Then；　gasping　for　breath；　didHester　Prynne　clutch　the　fatal　token；　instinctively　endeavouring　totear　it　away；　so　infinite　was　the　torture　inflicted　by　the　intelligenttouch　of　Pearl's　baby　hand。　Again；　as　if　her　mother's　agonised　gesturewere　meant　only　to　make　sport　for　her；　did　little　Pearl　look　intoher　eyes；　and　smile！　From　that　epoch；　except　when　the　child　wasasleep；　Hester　had　never　felt　a　moment's　safety；　not　a　moment's　calmenjoyment　of　her。　Weeks；　it　is　true；　would　sometimes　elapse；　duringwhich　Pearl's　gaze　might　never　once　be　fixed　upon　the　scarletletter；　but　then；　again；　it　would　e　at　unawares；　like　the　stroke　ofsudden　death；　and　always　with　that　peculiar　smile；　and　oddexpression　of　the　eyes。　　Once；　this　freakish；　elvish　cast　came　into　the　child's　eyes；　whileHester　was　looking　at　her　own　image　in　them；　as　mothers　are　fond　ofdoing；　and；　suddenly…　for　women　in　solitude；　and　with　troubled　hearts；are　pestered　with　unaccountable　delusions…　she　fancied　that　shebeheld；　not　her　own　miniature　portrait；　but　another　face；　in　the　smallblack　mirror　of　Pearl's　eye。　It　was　a　face　fiend…like；　full　of　smilingmalice；　yet　bearing　the　semblance　of　features　that　she　had　knownfull　well；　though　seldom　with　a　smile；　and　never　with　malice　inthem。　It　was　as　if　an　evil　spirit　possessed　the　child；　and　had　justthen　peeped　forth　in　mockery。　Many　a　time　afterwards　had　Hester　beentortured；　though　less　vividly；　by　the　same　illusion。　　In　the　afternoon　of　a　certain　summer's　day；　after　Pearl　grew　bigenough　to　run　about；　she　amused　herself　with　gathering　handfuls　ofwild…flowers；　and　flinging　them；　one　by　one；　at　her　mother's　bosom；dancing　up　and　down；　like　a　little　elf；　whenever　she　hit　the　scarletletter。　Hester's　first　motion　had　been　to　cover　her　bosom　with　herclasped　hands。　But；　whether　from　pride　or　resignation；　or　a　feelingthat　her　penance　might　best　be　wrought　out　by　this　unutterable　pain；she　resisted　the　impulse；　and　sat　erect；　pale　as　death；　lookingsadly　into　little　Pearl's　wild　eyes。　Still　came　the　battery　offlowers；　almost　invariably　hitting　the　mark；　and　covering　the　mother'sbreast　with　hurts　for　which　she　could　find　no　balm　in　this　world；nor　knew　how　to　seek　it　in　another。　At　last；　her　shot　being　allexpended；　the　child　stood　still　and　gazed　at　Hester；　with　thatlittle　laughing　image　of　a　fiend　peeping　out…　or；　whether　it　peeped　orno；　her　mother　so　imagined　it…　from　the　unsearchable　abyss　of　herblack　eyes。　　〃Child；　what　art　thou？〃　cried　the　mother。　　〃Oh；　I　am　your　little　Pearl！〃　answered　the　child。　　But；　while　she　said　it；　Pearl　laughed；　and　began　to　dance　up　anddown；　with　the　humorsome　gesticulation　of　a　little　imp；　whose　nextfreak　might　be　to　fly　up　the　chimney。　　〃Art　thou　my　child；　in　very　truth？〃　asked　Hester。　　Nor　did　she　put　the　question　altogether　idly；　but；　for　the　moment；with　a　portion　of　genuine　earnestness；　for；　such　was　Pearl's　wonderfulintelligence；　that　her　mother　half　doubted　whether　she　were　notacquainted　with　the　secret　spell　of　her　existence；　and　might　not　nowreveal　herself。　　〃Yes；　I　am　little　Pearl！〃　repeated　the　child；　continuing　her　antics。　　〃Thou　art　not　my　child！　Thou　art　no　Pearl　of　mine！〃　said　the　mother；half　playfully；　for　it　was　often　the　case　that　a　sportive　impulse　cameover　her；　in　the　midst　of　her　deepest　suffering。　〃Tell　me；　then；what　thou　art；　and　who　sent　thee　hither？〃　　〃Tell　me；　mother！〃　said　the　child　seriously；　ing　up　to　Hester；and　pressing　herself　close　to　her　knees。　〃Do　thou　tell　me！〃　　〃Thy　Heavenly　Father　sent　thee！〃　answered　Hester　Prynne。　　But　she　said　it　with　a　hesitation　that　did　not　escape　theacuteness　of　the　child。　Whether　moved　only　by　her　ordinaryfreakishness；　or　because　an　evil　spirit　prompted　her；　she　put　up　hersmall　forefinger；　and　touched　the　scarlet　letter。　　〃He　did　not　send　me！〃　cried　she　positively。　〃I　have　no　HeavenlyFather！〃　　〃Hush；　Pearl；　hush！　Thou　must　not　talk　so！〃　answered　the　mother；suppressing　a　groan。　〃He　sent　us　all　into　this　world。　He　sent　even　me；thy　mother。　Then；　much　more；　thee！　Or；　if　not；　thou　strange　and　elfishchild；　whence　didst　thou　e？〃　　〃Tell　me！　Tell　me！〃　repeated　Pearl；　no　longer　seriously；　butlaughing；　and　capering　about　the　floor。　〃It　is　thou　that　must　tellme！〃　　But　Hester　could　not　resolve　the　query；　being　herself　in　a　dismallabyrinth　of　doubt。　She　remembered…　betwixt　a　smile　and　a　shudder…　thetalk　of　the　neighbouring　townspeople；　who；　seeking　vainly　elsewherefor　the　child's　paternity；　and　observing　some　of　her　old　attributes；had　given　out　that　poor　little　Pearl　was　a　demon　offspring；　such　as；ever　since　old　Catholic　times；　had　occasionally　been　seer；　on　earth；through　the　agency　of　their　mother's　sin；　and　to　promote　some　foul　andwicked　purpose。　Luther；　according　to　the　scandal　of　his　monkishenemies；　was　a　brat　of　that　hellish　breed；　nor　was　Pearl　the　onlychild　to　whom　this　inauspicious　origin　was　assigned　among　the　NewEngland　Puritans。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　VII。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　GOVERNOR'S　HALL。　　HESTER　PRYNNE　went；　one　day；　to　the　mansion　of　GovernorBellingham；　with　a　pair　of　gloves；　which　she　had　fringed　andembroidered　to　his　order；　and　which　were　to　be　worn　on　some　greatoccasion　of　state；　for；　though　the　chances　of　a　popular　election　hadcaused　this　former　ruler　to　descend　a　step　or　two　from　the　highestrank；　he　still　held　an　honourable　and　influential　place　among　thecolonial　magistracy。　　Another　and　far　more　important　reason　than　the　delivery　of　a　pair　ofembroidered　gloves　impelled　Hester；　at　this　time；　to　seek　an　interviewwith　a　personage　of　so　much　power　and　activity　in　the　affairs　of　thesettlement。　It　had　reached　her　ears；　that　there　was　a　design　on　thepart　of　some　of　the　leading　inhabitants；　cherishing　the　more　rigidorder　of　principles　in　religion　and　government；　to　deprive　her　ofher　child。　On　the　supposition　that　Pearl；　as　already　hinted；　was　ofdemon　origin；　these　good　people　not　unreasonably　argued　that　aChristian　interest　in　the　mother's　soul　required　them　to　remove　such　astumbling…block　from　her　path。　If　the　child；　on　the　other　hand；　werereally　capable　of　moral　and　religious　growth；　and　possessed　theelements　of　ultimate　salvation；　then；　surely；　it　would　enjoy　all　thefairer　prospect　of　these　advantages；　by　being　transferred　to　wiser　andbetter　guardianship　than　Hester　Prynne's。　Among　those　who　promoted　thedesign；　Governor　Bellingham　was　said　to　be　one　of　the　most　busy。　Itmay　appear　singular；　and；　indeed；　not　a　little　ludicrous；　that　anaffair　of　this　kind；　which；　in　later　days；　would　have　been　referred　tono　higher　jurisdiction　than　that　of　the　selectmen　of　the　town；should　then　have　been　a　question　publicly　discussed；　and　on　whichstatesmen　of　eminence　took　sides。　At　that　epoch　of　pristinesimplicity；　however；　matters　of　even　slighter　public　interest；　andof　far　less　intrinsic　weight；　than　the　welfare　of　Hester　and　herchild；　were　strangely　mixed　up　with　the　deliberations　of　legislatorsand　acts　of　state。　The　period　was　hardly；　if　at　all；　earlier　than　thatof　our　story；　when　a　dispute　concerning　the　right　of　property　in　apig；　not　only　caused　a　fierce　and　bitter　contest　in　the　legislativebody　of　the　colony；　but　resulted　in　an　important　modification　of　theframework　itself　of　the　legislature。　　Full　of　concern；　therefore…　but　so　conscious　of　her　own　right　thatit　seemed　scarcely　an　unequal　match　between　the　public；　on　the　oneside；　and　a　lonely　woman；　backed　by　the　sympathies　of　nature；　on　theother…　Hester　Prynne　set　forth　from　her　solitary　cottage。　LittlePearl；　of　course；　was　her　panion。　She　was　now　of　an　age　to　runlightly　along　by　her　mother's　side；　and；　constantly　in　motion；　frommorn　till　sunset；　could　have　acplished　a　much　longer　journey　thanthat　before　her。　Often；　nevertheless；　more　from　caprice　thannecessity；　she　demanded　to　be　taken　up　in　arms；　but　was　soon　asimperious　to　be　set　down　again；　and　frisked　onward　before　Hester　onthe　grassy　pathway；　with　many　a　harmless　trip　and　tumble。　We　havespoken　of　Pearl's　rich　and　luxuriant　beauty；　a　beauty　that　shonewith　deep　and　vivid　tints；　a　bright　plexion；　eyes　possessingintensity　both　of　depth　and　glow；　and　hair　already　of　a　deep；　glossybrown；　and　which；　in　after　years；　would　be　nearly　akin　to　black。　Therewas　fire　in　her　and　throughout　her；　she　seemed　the　unpremeditatedoffshoot　of　a　passionate　moment。　Her　mother；　in　contriving　the　child'sgarb；　had　allowed　the　gorgeous　tendencies　of　her　imagination　theirfull　play；　arraying　her　in　a　crimson　velvet　tunic；　of　a　peculiarcut；　abundantly　embroidered　with　fantasies　and　flourishes　of　goldthread。　So　much　strength　of　colouring；　which　must　have　given　a　wan　andpallid　aspect　to　cheeks　of　a　fainter　bloom；　was　admirably　adapted　toPearl's　beauty；　and　made　her　the　very　brightest　little　jet　of　flamethat　ever　danced　upon　the　earth。　　But　it　was　a　remarkable　attribute　of　this　garb；　and；　indeed；　ofthe　child's　whole　appearance；　that　it　irresistibly　and　inevitablyreminded　the　beholder　of　the　token　which　Hester　Prynne　was　doomed　towear　upon　her　bosom。　It　was　the　scarlet　letter　in　another　form；　thescarlet　letter　endowed　with　life！　The　mother　herself…　as　if　the　redignominy　were　so　deeply　scorched　into　her　brain　that　all　herconceptions　assumed　its　form…　had　carefully　wrought　out　thesimilitude；　lavishing　many　hours　of　morbid　ingenuity；　to　create　ananalogy　between　the　object　of　her　affection　and　the　emblem　of　herguilt　and　torture。　But；　in　truth；　Pearl　was　the　one；　as　well　as　theother；　and　only　in　consequence　of　that　identity　had　Hester　contrivedso　perfectly　to　represent　the　scarlet　letter　in　her　appearance。　　As　the　two　wayfarers　came　within　the　precincts　of　the　town；　thechildren　of　the　Puritans　looked　up　from　their　play…　or　what　passed　forplay　with　those　sombre　little　urchins…　and　spake　gravely　one　toanother…　　〃Behold；　verily；　there　is　the　woman　of　the　scarlet　letter；　and；　of　atruth；　moreover；　there　is　the　likeness　of　the　scarlet　letter　runningalong　by　her　side！　e；　therefore；　and　let　us　fling　mud　at　them！〃　　But　Pearl；　who　was　a　dauntless　child；　after　frowning；　stamping　herfoot；　and　shaking　her　little　hand　with　a　variety　of　threateninggestures；　suddenly　made　a　rush　at　the　knot　of　her　enemies；　and　putthem　all　to　flight。　She　resembled；　in　her　fierce　pursuit　of　them；　aninfant　pestilence…　the　scarlet　fever；　or　some　such　half…fledgedangel　of　judgment…　whose　mission　was　to　punish　the　sins　of　therising　generation。　She　screamed　and　shouted；　too；　with　a　terrificvolume　of　sound；　which；　doubtless；　caused　the　hearts　of　thefugitives　to　quake　within　them。　The　victory　acplished；　Pearlreturned　quietly　to　her　mother；　and　looked　up；　smiling；　into　her　face。　　Without　further　adventure；　they　reached　the　dwelling　of　GovernorBellingham。　This　was　a　large　wooden　house；　built　in　a　fashion　of　whichthere　are　specimens　still　extant　in　the　streets　of　our　elder　towns；now　moss…grown；　crumbling　to　decay；　and　melancholy　at　heart　with　themany　sorrowful　or　joyful　occurrences；　remembered　or　forgotten；　thathave　happened；　and　passed　away；　within　their　dusky　chambers。　Then；however；　there　was　the　freshness　of　the　passing　year　on　itsexterior；　and　the　cheerfulness；　gleaming　forth　from　the　sunny　windows；of　a　human　habitation；　into　which　death　had　never　entered。　It　had；indeed；　a　very　cheery　aspect；　the　walls　being　overspread　with　a　kindof　stucco；　in　which　fragments　of　broken　glass　were　intermixed；　sothat；　when　the　sunshine　fell　aslant…wise　over　the　front　of　theedifice；　it　glittered　and　sparkled　as　if　diamonds　had　been　flungagainst　it　by　the　double　handful。　The　brilliancy　might　have　befittedAladdin's　palace；　rather　than　the　mansion　of　a　grave　old　Puritanruler。　It　was　further　decorated　with　strange　and　seeminglycabalistic　figures　and　diagrams；　suitable　to　the　quaint　taste　of　theage；　which　had　been　drawn　in　the　stucco　when　newly　laid　on；　and　hadnow　grown　hard　and　durable；　for　the　admiration　of　after　times。　　Pearl；　looking　at　this　bright　wonder　of　a　house；　began　to　caperand　dance；　and　imperatively　required　that　the　whole　breadth　ofsunshine　should　be　stripped　off　its　front；　and　given　her　to　play　with。　　〃No；　my　little　Pearl！〃　said　her　mother。　〃Thou　must　gather　thineown　sunshine。　I　have　none　to　give　thee！〃　　They　approached　the　door；　which　was　of　an　arched　form；　and　flankedon　each　side　by　a　narrow　tower　or　projection　of　the　edifice；　in　bothof　which　were　lattice…windows；　with　wooden　shutters　to　close　over　themat　need。　Lifting　the　iron　hammer　that　hung　at　the　portal；　HesterPrynne　gave　a　summons；　which　was　answered　by　one　of　the　Governor'sbond…servants；　a　free…born　Englishman；　but　now　a　seven　years'　slave。During　that　term　he　was　to　be　the　property　of　his　master；　and　asmuch　a　modity　of　bargain　and　sale　as　an　ox；　or　a　joint…stool。　Theserf　wore　the　blue　coat；　which　was　the　customary　garb　of　serving…menat　that　period；　and　long　before；　in　the　old　hereditary　halls　ofEngland。　　〃Is　the　worshipful　Governor　Bellingham　within？〃　inquired　Hester。　　〃Yea；　forsooth；〃　replied　the　bond…servant；　staring　with　wide…openeyes　at　the　scarlet　letter；　which；　being　a　new…er　in　the　country；he　had　never　before　seen。　〃Yea；　his　honourable　worship　is　within。But　he　hath　a　godly　minister　or