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手机浏览器扫描二维码访问

第12部分（第1页）

rt；　had　awaited　the　result　of　hisappeal。　He　now　drew　back；　with　a　long　respiration。　〃Wondrousstrength　and　generosity　of　a　womans　heart！　She　will　not　speak！〃　　Discerning　the　impractible　state　of　the　poor　culprits　mind；　theelder　clergyman；　who　had　carefully　prepared　himself　for　theoccasion；　addressed　to　the　multitude　a　discourse　on　sin；　in　all　itsbranches；　but　with　continual　reference　to　the　ignominious　letter。　Soforcibly　did　he　dwell　upon　this　symbol；　for　the　hour　or　more　duringwhich　his　periods　were　rolling　over　the　peoples　heads；　that　itassumed　new　terrors　in　their　imagination；　and　seemed　to　derive　itsscarlet　hue　from　the　flames　of　the　infernal　pit。　Hester　Prynne；meanwhile；　kept　her　place　upon　the　pedestal　of　shame；　with　glazedeyes；　and　an　air　of　weary　indifference。　She　had　borne；　that　morning；all　that　nature　could　endure；　and　as　her　temperament　was　not　of　theorder　that　escapes　from　too　intense　suffering　by　a　swoon；　her　spiritcould　only　shelter　itself　beneath　a　stony　crust　of　insensibility；while　the　faculties　of　animal　life　remained　entire。　In　this　state；　thevoice　of　the　preacher　thundered　remorselessly；　but　unavailingly；upon　her　ears。　The　infant；　during　the　latter　portion　of　her　ordeal；pierced　the　air　with　its　wailings　and　screams；　she　strove　to　hushit；　mechanically；　but　seemed　scarcely　to　sympathise　with　itstrouble。　With　the　same　hard　demeanour；　she　was　led　back　to　prison；　andvanished　from　the　public　gaze　within　its　iron…clamped　portal。　It　waswhispered；　by　those　who　peered　after　her；　that　the　scarlet　letterthrew　a　lurid　gleam　along　the　dark　passage…way　of　the　interior。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　IV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　THE　INTERVIEW。　　AFTER　her　return　to　the　prison；　Hester　Prynne　was　found　to　be　in　astate　of　nervous　excitement　that　demanded　constant　watchfulness；lest　she　should　perpetrate　violence　on　herself；　or　do　somehalf…frenzied　mischief　to　the　poor　babe。　As　night　approached；　itproving　impossible　to　quell　her　insubordination　by　rebuke　or　threatsof　punishment；　Master　Brackett；　the　jailer；　thought　fit　to　introduce　aphysician。　He　described　him　as　a　man　of　skill　in　all　Christian　modesof　physical　science；　and　likewise　familiar　with　whatever　the　savagepeople　could　teach；　in　respect　to　medicinal　herbs　and　roots　thatgrew　in　the　forest。　To　say　the　truth；　there　was　much　need　ofprofessional　assistance；　not　merely　for　Hester　herself；　but　still　moreurgently　for　the　child；　who；　drawing　its　sustenance　from　thematernal　bosom；　seemed　to　have　drank　in　with　it　all　the　turmoil；　theanguish　and　despair；　which　pervaded　the　mothers　system。　It　nowwrithed　in　convulsions　of　pain；　and　was　a　forcible　type；　in　its　littleframe；　of　the　moral　agony　which　Hester　Prynne　had　borne　throughout　theday。　　Closely　following　the　jailer　into　the　dismal　apartment；　appearedthat　individual　of　singular　aspect；　whose　presence　in　the　crowd　hadbeen　of　such　deep　interest　to　the　wearer　of　the　scarlet　letter。　He　waslodged　in　the　prison；　not　as　suspected　of　any　offence；　but　as　the　mostconvenient　and　suitable　mode　of　disposing　of　him；　until　themagistrates　should　have　conferred　with　the　Indian　sagamores　respectinghis　ransom。　His　name　was　announced　as　Roger　Chillingworth。　The　jailer；after　ushering　him　into　the　room；　remained　a　moment；　marvelling　at　theparative　quiet　that　followed　his　entrance；　for　Hester　Prynne　hadimmediately　bee　as　still　as　death；　although　the　child　continuedto　moan。　　〃Prithee；　friend；　leave　me　alone　with　my　patient；〃　said　thepractitioner。　〃Trust　me；　good　jailer；　you　shall　briefly　have　peacein　your　house；　and；　I　promise　you；　Mistress　Prynne　shall　hereafterbe　more　amenable　to　just　authority　than　you　may　have　found　herheretofore。〃　　〃Nay；　if　your　worship　can　acplish　that；〃　answered　MasterBrackett；　〃I　shall　own　you　for　a　man　of　skill　indeed！　Verily；　thewoman　hath　been　like　a　possessed　one；　and　there　lacks　little；　that　Ishould　take　in　hand　to　drive　Satan　out　of　her　with　stripes。〃　　The　stranger　had　entered　the　room　with　the　characteristic　quietudeof　the　profession　to　which　he　announced　himself　as　belonging。　Nordid　his　demeanour　change；　when　the　withdrawal　of　the　prison　keeperleft　him　face　to　face　with　the　woman；　whose　absorbed　notice　of　him；　inthe　crowd；　had　intimated　so　close　a　relation　between　himself　andher。　His　first　care　was　given　to　the　child；　whose　cries；　indeed；　asshe　lay　writhing　on　the　trundle…bed；　made　it　of　peremptory　necessityto　postpone　all　other　business　to　the　task　of　soothing　her。　Heexamined　the　infant　carefully；　and　then　proceeded　to　unclasp　aleathern　case；　which　he　took　from　beneath　his　dress。　It　appeared　tocontain　medical　preparations；　one　of　which　he　mingled　with　a　cup　ofwater。　　〃My　old　studies　in　alchemy；〃　observed　he；　〃and　my　sojourn；　for　abovea　year　past；　among　a　people　well　versed　in　the　kindly　properties　ofsimples；　have　made　a　better　physician　of　me　than　many　that　claim　themedical　degree。　Here；　woman！　The　child　is　yours…　she　is　none　ofmine…　neither　will　she　recognise　my　voice　or　aspect　as　a　fathers。Administer　this　draught；　therefore；　with　thine　own　hand。〃　　Hester　repelled　the　offered　medicine；　at　the　same　time　gazing　withstrongly　marked　apprehension　into　his　face。　　〃Wouldst　thou　avenge　thyself　on　the　innocent　babe？〃　whispered　she。　　〃Foolish　woman！〃　responded　the　physician；　half　coldly；　halfsoothingly。　〃What　should　ail　me；　to　harm　this　misbegotten　andmiserable　babe？　The　medicine　is　potent　for　good；　and　were　it　my　child…yea；　mine　own；　as　well　as　thine！…　I　could　do　no　better　for　it。〃　　As　she　still　hesitated；　being；　in　fact；　in　no　reasonable　state　ofmind；　he　took　the　infant　in　his　arms；　and　himself　administered　thedraught。　It　soon　proved　its　efficacy；　and　redeemed　the　leechs　pledge。The　moans　of　the　little　patient　subsided；　its　convulsive　tossingsgradually　ceased；　and；　in　a　few　moments；　as　is　the　custom　of　youngchildren　after　relief　from　pain；　it　sank　into　a　profound　and　dewyslumber。　The　physician；　as　he　had　a　fair　right　to　be　termed；　nextbestowed　his　attention　on　the　mother。　With　calm　and　intent　scrutiny；he　felt　her　pulse；　looked　into　her　eyes…　a　gaze　that　made　her　heartshrink　and　shudder；　because　so　familiar；　and　yet　so　strange　andcold…　and；　finally；　satisfied　with　his　investigation；　proceeded　tomingle　another　draught。　　〃I　know　not　Lethe　nor　Nepenthe；〃　remarked　he；　〃but　I　have　learnedmany　new　secrets　in　the　wilderness；　and　here　is　one　of　them…　arecipe　that　an　Indian　taught　me；　in　requital　of　some　lessons　of　myown；　that　were　as　old　as　Paracelsus。　Drink　it！　It　may　be　less　soothingthan　a　sinless　conscience。　That　I　cannot　give　thee。　But　it　will　calmthe　swell　and　heaving　of　thy　passion；　like　oil　thrown　on　the　wavesof　a　tempestuous　sea。〃　　He　presented　the　cup　to　Hester；　who　received　it　with　a　slow；　earnestlook　into　his　face；　not　precisely　a　look　of　fear；　yet　full　of　doubtand　questioning；　as　to　what　his　purposes　might　be。　She　looked　alsoat　her　slumbering　child。　　〃I　have　thought　of　death；〃　said　she…　〃have　wished　for　it…　wouldeven　have　prayed　for　it；　were　it　fit　that　such　as　I　should　pray　foranything。　Yet；　if　death　be　in　this　cup；　I　bid　thee　think　again；　erethou　beholdest　me　quaff　it。　See！　It　is　even　now　at　my　lips。〃　　〃Drink；　then；〃　replied　he；　still　with　the　same　cold　posure。　〃Dostthou　know　me　so　little；　Hester　Prynne？　Are　my　purposes　wont　to　be　soshallow？　Even　if　I　imagine　a　scheme　of　vengeance；　what　could　I　dobetter　for　my　object　than　to　let　thee　live…　than　to　give　theemedicines　　against　all　harm　and　peril　of　life…　so　that　this　burningshame　may　still　blaze　upon　thy　bosom！〃　As　he　spoke；　he　laid　his　longforefinger　on　the　scarlet　letter；　which　forthwith　seemed　to　scorchinto　Hesters　breast；　as　if　it　had　been　red…hot。　He　noticed　herinvoluntary　gesture；　and　smiled。　〃Live；　therefore；　and　bear　aboutthy　doom　with　thee；　in　the　eyes　of　men　and　women…　in　the　eyes　of　himwhom　thou　didst　call　thy　husband…　in　the　eyes　of　yonder　child！　And；that　thou　mayest　live；　take　off　this　draught。〃　　Without　further　expostulation　or　delay；　Hester　Prynne　drained　thecup；　and；　at　the　motion　of　the　man　of　skill；　seated　herself　on　the　bedwhere　the　child　was　sleeping；　while　he　drew　the　only　chair　which　theroom　afforded；　and　took　his　own　seat　beside　her。　She　could　not　buttremble　at　these　preparations；　for　she　felt　that…　having　now　done　allthat　humanity；　or　principle；　or；　if　so　it　were；　a　refined　cruelty；impelled　him　to　do；　for　the　relief　of　physical　suffering…　he　wasnext　to　treat　with　her　as　the　man　whom　she　had　most　deeply　andirreparably　injured。　　〃Hester；〃　said　he；　〃I　ask　not　wherefore；　nor　how；　thou　hast　falleninto　the　pit；　or　say；　rather；　thou　hast　ascended　to　the　pedestal　ofinfamy；　on　which　I　found　thee。　The　reason　is　not　far　to　seek。　It　wasmy　folly；　and　thy　weakness。　I…　a　man　of　thought…　the　bookworm　of　greatlibraries…　a　man　already　in　decay；　having　given　my　best　years　tofeed　the　hungry　dream　of　knowledge…　what　had　I　to　do　with　youth　andbeauty　like　thine　own！　Misshapen　from　my　birth…hour；　how　could　Idelude　myself　with　the　idea　that　intellectual　gifts　might　veilphysical　deformity　in　a　young　girls　fantasy！　Men　call　me　wise。　Ifsages　were　ever　wise　in　their　own　behoof；　I　might　have　foreseen　allthis。　I　might　have　known　that；　as　I　came　out　of　the　vast　and　dismalforest；　and　entered　this　settlement　of　Christian　men；　the　very　firstobject　to　meet　my　eyes　would　be　thyself；　Hester　Prynne；　standing　up；　astatue　of　ignominy；　before　the　people。　Nay；　from　the　moment　when　wecame　down　the　old　churchsteps　together；　a　married　pair；　I　might　havebeheld　the　bale…fire　of　that　scarlet　letter　blazing　at　the　end　ofour　path！〃　　〃Thou　knowest；〃　said　Hester…　for；　depressed　as　she　was；　she　couldnot　endure　this　last　quiet　stab　at　the　token　of　her　shame…　　〃thouknowest　that　I　was　frank　with　thee。　I　felt　no　love；　nor　feigned　any。〃　　〃True；〃　replied　he。　〃It　was　my　folly！　I　have　said　it。　But；　up　tothat　epoch　of　my　life；　I　had　lived　in　vain。　The　world　had　been　socheerless！　My　heart　was　a　habitation　large　enough　for　many　guests；　butlonely　and　chill；　and　without　a　household　fire。　I　longed　to　kindleone！　It　seemed　not　so　wild　a　dream…　old　as　I　was；　and　sombre　as　I　was；and　misshapen　as　I　was…　that　the　simple　bliss；　which　is　scatteredfar　and　wide；　for　all　mankind　to　gather　up；　might　yet　be　mine。　And　so；Hester；　I　drew　thee　into　my　heart；　into　its　innermost　chamber；　andsought　to　warm　thee　by　the　warmth　which　thy　presence　made　there！〃　　〃I　have　greatly　wronged　thee；〃　murmured　Hester。　　〃We　have　wronged　each　other；〃　answered　he。　〃Mine　was　the　firstwrong；　when　I　betrayed　thy　budding　youth　into　a　false　and　unnaturalrelation　with　my　decay。　Therefore；　as　a　man　who　has　not　thought　andphilosophised　in　vain；　I　seek　no　vengeance；　plot　no　evil　against　thee。Between　thee　and　me　the　scale　hangs　fairly　balanced。　But；　Hester；the　man　lives　who　has　wronged　us　both！　Who　is　he？〃　　〃Ask　me　not！〃　replied　Hester　Prynne；　looking　firmly　into　his　face。〃That　thou　shalt　never　know！〃　　〃Never；　sayest　thou？〃　rejoined　he；　with　a　smile　of　dark　andself…relying　intelligence。　〃Never　know　him！　Believe　me；　Hester；there　are　few　things…　whether　in　the　outward　world；　or；　to　a　certaindepth；　in　the　invisible　sphere　of　thought…　few　things　hidden　fromthe　man　who　devotes　himself　earnestly　and　unreservedly　to　the　solutionof　a　mystery。　Thou　mayest　cover　up　thy　secret　from　the　pryingmultitude。　Thou　mayest　conceal　it；　too；　from　the　ministers　andmagistrates；　even　as　thou　didst　this　day；　wh

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