红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第30部分
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ns who speculate the most boldly oftenconform with the most perfect quietude to the external regulationsof society。 The thought suffices them； without investing itself in theflesh and blood of action。 So it seemed to be with Hester。 Yet； hadlittle Pearl never e to her from the spiritual world； it might havebeen far otherwise。 Then； she might have e down to us in history；hand in hand with Ann Hutchinson； as the foundress of a religioussect。 She might； in one of her phases； have been a prophetess。 Shemight； and not improbably would； have suffered death from the sterntribunals of the period； for attempting to undermine the foundationsof the Puritan establishment。 But； in the education of her child；the mother's enthusiasm of thought had something to wreak itself upon。Providence； in the person of this little girl； had assigned toHester's charge the germ and blossom of womanhood； to be cherished anddeveloped amid a host of difficulties。 Everything was against her。 Theworld was hostile。 The child's own nature had something wrong in it；which continually betokened that she had been born amiss… theeffluence of her mother's lawless passion… and often impelled Hesterto ask； in bitterness of heart； whether it were for ill or good thatthe poor little creature had been born at all。 Indeed； the same dark question often rose into her mind； withreference to the whole race of womanhood。 Was existence worthaccepting； even to the happiest among them？ As concerned her ownindividual existence； she had long ago decided in the negative； anddismissed the point as settled。 A tendency to speculation； though itmay keep an； yet makes her sad。 She discerns；it may be； such a hopeless task before her。 As a first step； the wholesystem of society is to be torn down； and built up anew。 Then； thevery nature of the opposite sex； or its long hereditary habit； whichhas bee like nature； is to be essentially modified； before womancan be allowed to assume what seems a fair and suitable position。Finally； all other difficulties being obviated； woman cannot takeadvantage of these preliminary reforms； until she herself shall haveundergone a still mightier change； in which； perhaps； the etherealessence； wherein she has her truest life； will be found to haveevaporated。 A woman never overes these problems by any exerciseof thought。 They are not to be solved； or only in one way。 If herheart chance to e uppermost； they vanish。 Thus； Hester Prynne；whose heart had lost its regular and healthy throb； wandered without aclew in the dark labyrinth of mind； now turned aside by aninsurmountable precipice； now starting back from a deep chasm。 Therewas wild and ghastly scenery all around her； and a home and fortnowhere。 At times； a fearful doubt strove to possess her soul； whetherit were not better to send Pearl at once to heaven； and go herselfto such futurity as Eternal Justice should provide。 The scarlet letter had not done its office。 Now； however； her interview with the Reverend Mr。 Dimmesdale； on thenight of his vigil； had given her a new theme of reflection； andheld up to her an object that appeared worthy of any exertion andsacrifice for its attainment。 She had witnessed the intense miserybeneath which the minister struggled； or； to speak more accurately；had ceased to struggle。 She saw that he stood on the verge oflunacy； if he had not already stepped across it。 It was impossibleto doubt； that； whatever painful efficacy there might be in the secretsting of remorse； a deadlier venom had been infused into it by thehand that proffered relief。 A secret enemy had been continually by hisside； under the semblance of a friend and helper； and had availedhimself of the opportunities thus afforded for tampering with thedelicate springs of Mr。 Dimmesdale's nature。 Hester could not butask herself； whether there had not originally been a defect oftruth； courage； and loyalty； on her own part； in allowing the ministerto be thrown into a position where so much evil was to be foreboded；and nothing auspicious to be hoped。 Her only justification lay inthe fact； that she had been able to discern no method of rescuinghim from a blacker ruin than had overwhelmed herself； except byacquiescing in Roger Chillingworth's scheme of disguise。 Under thatimpulse； she had made her choice； and had chosen； as it nowappeared； the more wretched alternative of the two。 She determinedto redeem her error； so far as it might yet be possible。Strengthened by years of hard and solemn trial； she felt herself nolonger so inadequate to cope with Roger Chillingworth as on thatnight； abased by sin； and half maddened by the ignominy that was stillnew； when they had talked together in the prison…chamber。 She hadclimbed her way； since then； to a higher point。 The old man； on theother hand； had brought himself nearer to her level； or perhapsbelow it； by the revenge which he had stooped for。 In fine； Hester Prynne resolved to meet her former husband； and dowhat might be in her power for the rescue of the victim on whom he hadso evidently set his gripe。 The occasion was not long to seek。 Oneafternoon； walking with Pearl in a retired part of the peninsula；she beheld the old physician； with a basket on one arm； and a staff inthe other hand； stooping along the ground； in quest of roots and herbsto concoct his medicines withal。 XIV。 HESTER AND THE PHYSICIAN。 HESTER bade little Pearl run down to the margin of the water； andplay with the shells and tangled seaweed； until she should have talkedawhile with yonder gatherer of herbs。 So the child flew away like abird； and； making bare her small white feet； went pattering alongthe moist margin of the sea。 Here and there she came to a full stop；and peeped curiously into a pool； left by the retiring tide as amirror for Pearl to see her face in。 Forth peeped at her； out of thepool； with dark； glistening curls around her head； and an elf…smile inher eyes； the image of a little maid； whom Pearl； having no otherplaymate； invited to take her hand； and run a race with her。 But thevisionary little maid； on her part； beckoned likewise； as if to say；〃This is a better place！ e thou into the pool！〃 And Pearl； steppingin； mid…leg deep； beheld her own white feet at the bottom； while；out of a still lower depth； came the gleam of a kind of fragmentarysmile； floating to and fro in the agitated water。 Meanwhile； her mother had accosted the physician。 〃I would speak a word with you；〃 said she… 〃a word that concernsus much。〃 〃Aha！ and is it Mistress Hester that has a word for old RogerChillingworth？〃 answered he； raising himself from his stoopingposture。 〃With all my heart！ Why； mistress； I hear good tidings ofyou； on all hands！ No longer ago than yester…eve； a magistrate； a wiseand godly man； was discoursing of your affairs； Mistress Hester； andwhispered me that there had been question concerning you in thecouncil。 It was debated whether or no； with safety to the mon weal；yonder scarlet letter might be taken off your bosom。 On my life；Hester； I made my entreaty to the worshipful magistrate that itmight be done forthwith！〃 〃It lies not in the pleasure of the magistrates to take off thisbadge。〃 calmly replied Hester。 〃Were I worthy to be quit of it； itwould fall away of its own nature； or be transformed into somethingthat should speak a different purport。〃 〃Nay； then； wear it； if it suit you better；〃 rejoined he。 〃A womanmust needs follow her own fancy touching the adornment of herperson。 The letter is gaily embroidered； and shows right bravely onyour bosom！〃 All this while； Hester had been looking steadily at the old man； andwas shocked； as well as wonder…smitten； to discern what a change hadbeen wrought upon him within the past seven years。 It was not somuch that he had grown older； for though the traces of advancinglife were visible； he bore his age well； and seemed to retain a wiryvigour and alertness。 But the former aspect of an intellectual andstudious man； calm and quiet； which was what she best remembered inhim； had altogether vanished； and been succeeded by an eager；searching； almost fierce； yet carefully guarded look。 It seemed tobe his wish and purpose to mask this expression with a smile； butthe latter played him false； and flickered over his visage soderisively； that the spectator could see his blackness all thebetter for it。 Ever and anon； too； there came a glare of red light outof his eyes； as if the old man's soul were on fire； and kept onsmouldering duskily within his breast； until； by some casual puff ofpassion； it was blown into a momentary flame。 This he repressed； asspeedily as possible； and strove to look as if nothing of the kind hadhappened。 In a word； old Roger Chillingworth was a striking evidence ofman's faculty of transforming himself into a devil； if he will only；for a reasonable space of time； undertake a devil's office。 Thisunhappy person had effected such a transformation； by devotinghimself； for seven years； to the constant analysis of a heart fullof torture； and deriving his enjoyment thence； and adding fuel tothose fiery tortures which he analysed and gloated over。 The scarlet letter burned on Hester Prynne's bosom。 Here was anotherruin； the responsibility of which came partly home to her。 〃What see you in my face；〃 asked the physician； 〃that you look at itso earnestly？〃 〃Something that would make me weep； if there were any tears bitterenough for it；〃 answered she。 〃But let it pass！ It is of yondermiserable man that I would speak。〃 〃And what of him？〃 cried Roger Chillingworth eagerly； as if he lovedthe topic； and were glad of an opportunity to discuss it with the onlyperson of whom he could make a confidant。 〃Not to hide the truth；Mistress Hester； my thoughts happen just now to be busy with thegentleman。 So speak freely； and I will make answer。〃 〃When we last spake together；〃 said Hester； 〃now seven years ago； itwas your pleasure to extort a promise of secrecy； as touching theformer relation betwixt yourself and me。 As the life and good fameof yonder man were in your hands； there seemed no choice to me； saveto be silent； in accordance with your behest。 Yet it was not withoutheavy misgivings that I thus bound myself； for； having cast off allduty towards other human beings； there remained a duty towards him；and something whispered me tha
