红字-the scarlet letter(英文版)-第35章

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aid；　but　now；　that　there　could　be　no　good　event　forhim；　or　thee；　or　me；　who　are　here　wandering　together　in　this　gloomymaze　of　evil；　and　stumbling；　at　every　step；　over　the　guilt　wherewithwe　have　strewn　our　path。　It　is　not　so！　There　might　be　good　for　thee；and　thee　alone；　since　thou　hast　been　deeply　wronged；　and　hast　it　atthy　will　to　pardon。　Wilt　thou　give　up　that　only　privilege？　Wilt　thoureject　that　priceless　benefit？〃　　〃Peace；　Hester；　peace！〃　replied　the　old　man；　with　gloomysternness。　〃It　is　not　granted　me　to　pardon。　I　have　no　such　power　asthou　tellest　me　of。　My　old　faith；　long　forgotten；　es　back　to　me；and　explains　all　that　we　do；　and　all　we　suffer。　By　thy　first　stepawry；　thou　didst　plant　the　germ　of　evil；　but　since　that　moment；　it　hasall　been　a　dark　necessity。　Ye　that　have　wronged　me　are　not　sinful；save　in　a　kind　of　typical　illusion；　neither　am　I　fiend…like；　whohave　snatched　a　fiend's　office　from　his　hands。　It　is　our　fate。　Let　theblack　flower　blossom　as　it　may！　Now　go　thy　ways；　and　deal　as　thou　wiltwith　yonder　man。〃　　He　waved　his　hand　and　betook　himself　again　to　his　employment　ofgathering　herbs。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　XV。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　HESTER　AND　PEARL。　　SO　Roger　Chillingworth…　a　deformed　old　figure；　with　a　face　thathaunted　men's　memories　longer　than　they　liked…　took　leave　of　HesterPrynne；　and　went　stooping　away　along　the　earth。　He　gathered　here　andthere　an　herb；　or　grubbed　up　a　root；　and　put　it　into　the　basket　on　hisarm。　His　grey　beard　almost　touched　the　ground；　as　he　crept　onward。Hester　gazed　after　him　a　little　while；　looking　with　a　half　fantasticcuriosity　to　see　whether　the　tender　grass　of　early　spring　would　not　beblighted　beneath　him；　and　show　the　wavering　track　of　his　footsteps；sere　and　brown；　across　its　cheerful　verdure。　She　wondered　what　sort　ofherbs　they　were；　which　the　old　man　was　so　sedulous　to　gather。　Wouldnot　the　earth；　quickened　to　an　evil　purpose　by　the　sympathy　of　hiseye；　greet　him　with　poisonous　shrubs；　of　species　hitherto　unknown；that　would　start　up　under　his　fingers？　Or　might　it　suffice　him；　thatevery　wholesome　growth　should　be　converted　into　somethingdeleterious　and　malignant　at　his　touch？　Did　the　sun；　which　shone　sobrightly　everywhere　else；　really　fall　upon　him？　Or　was　there；　as　itrather　seemed；　a　circle　of　ominous　shadow　moving　along　with　hisdeformity；　whichever　way　he　turned　himself？　And　whither　was　he　nowgoing？　Would　he　not　suddenly　sink　into　the　earth；　leaving　a　barren　andblasted　spot；　where；　in　due　course　of　time；　would　be　seen　deadlynightshade；　dogwood；　henbane；　and　whatever　else　of　vegetablewickedness　the　climate　could　produce；　all　flourishing　with　hideousluxuriance？　Or　would　he　spread　bat's　wings　and　flee　away；　looking　somuch　the　uglier；　the　higher　he　rose　towards　heaven？　　〃Be　it　sin　or　no；〃　said　Hester　Prynne　bitterly；　as　she　still　gazedafter　him；　〃I　hate　the　man！〃　　She　upbraided　herself　for　the　sentiment；　but　could　not　overe　orlessen　it。　Attempting　to　do　so；　she　thought　of　those　long…past　days；in　a　distant　land；　when　he　used　to　emerge　at　eventide　from　theseclusion　of　his　study；　and　sit　down　in　the　firelight　of　their　home；and　in　the　light　of　her　nuptial　smile。　He　needed　to　bask　himself　inthat　smile；　he　said；　in　order　that　the　chill　of　so　many　lonely　hoursamong　his　books　might　be　taken　off　the　scholar's　heart。　Such　sceneshad　once　appeared　not　otherwise　than　happy；　but　now；　as　viewed　throughthe　dismal　medium　of　her　subsequent　life；　they　classed　themselvesamong　her　ugliest　remembrances。　She　marvelled　how　such　scenes　couldhave　been！　She　marvelled　how　she　could　ever　have　been　wrought　uponto　marry　him！　She　deemed　it　her　crime　most　to　be　repented　of；　that　shehad　ever　endured；　and　reciprocated；　the　lukewarm　grasp　of　his　hand；and　had　suffered　the　smile　of　her　lips　and　eyes　to　mingle　and　meltinto　his　own。　And　it　seemed　a　fouler　offence　mitted　by　RogerChillingworth；　than　any　which　had　since　been　done　him；　that；　in　thetime　when　her　heart　knew　no　better；　he　had　persuaded　her　to　fancyherself　happy　by　his　side。　　〃Yes；　I　hate　him！〃　repeated　Hester；　more　bitterly　than　before。　〃Hebetrayed　me！　He　has　done　me　worse　wrong　than　I　did　him！〃　　Let　men　tremble　to　win　the　hand　of　woman；　unless　they　win　along　withit　the　utmost　passion　of　her　heart！　Else　it　may　be　their　miserablefortune；　as　it　was　Roger　Chillingworth's；　when　some　mightier　touchthan　their　own　may　have　awakened　all　her　sensibilities；　to　bereproached　even　for　the　calm　content；　the　marble　image　of　happiness；which　they　will　have　imposed　upon　her　as　the　warm　reality。　ButHester　ought　long　ago　to　have　done　with　this　injustice。　What　did　itbetoken？　Had　seven　long　years；　under　the　torture　of　the　scarletletter；　inflicted　so　much　of　misery；　and　wrought　out　no　repentance？　　The　emotions　of　that　brief　space；　while　she　stood　gazing　after　thecrooked　figure　of　old　Roger　Chillingworth；　threw　a　dark　light　onHester's　state　of　mind；　revealing　much　that　she　might　not　otherwisehave　acknowledged　to　herself。　　He　being　gone；　she　summoned　back　her　child。　　〃Pearl！　Little　Pearl！　Where　are　you？〃　　Pearl；　whose　activity　of　spirit　never　flagged；　had　been　at　no　lossfor　amusement　while　her　mother　talked　with　the　old　gatherer　ofherbs。　At　first；　as　already　told；　she　had　flirted　fancifully　withher　own　image　in　a　pool　of　water；　beckoning　the　phantom　forth；　and…　asit　declined　to　venture…　seeking　a　passage　for　herself　into　itssphere　of　impalpable　earth　and　unattainable　sky。　Soon　finding；however；　that　either　she　or　the　image　was　unreal；　she　turned　elsewherefor　better　pastime。　She　made　little　boats　out　of　birch…bark；　andfreighted　them　with　snail…shells；　and　sent　out　more　ventures　on　themighty　deep　than　any　merchant　in　New　England；　but　the　larger　part　ofthem　foundered　near　the　shore。　She　seized　a　live　horse…shoe　by　thetail；　and　made　prize　of　several　five…fingers；　and　laid　out　ajelly…fish　to　melt　in　the　warm　sun。　Then　she　took　up　the　white　foam；that　streaked　the　line　of　the　advancing　tide；　and　threw　it　upon　thebreeze；　scampering　after　it；　with　winged　footsteps；　to　catch　the　greatsnowflakes　ere　they　fell。　Perceiving　a　flock　of　beach…birds；　thatfed　and　fluttered　along　the　shore；　the　naughty　child　picked　up　herapron　full　of　pebbles；　and；　creeping　from　rock　to　rock　after　thesesmall　sea…fowl；　displayed　remarkable　dexterity　in　pelting　them。　Onelittle　grey　bird；　with　a　white　breast；　Pearl　was　almost　sure；　had　beenhit　by　a　pebble；　and　fluttered　away　with　a　broken　wing。　But　then　theelf…child　sighed；　and　gave　up　her　sport；　because　it　grieved　her　tohave　done　harm　to　a　little　being　that　was　as　wild　as　the　sea…breeze；or　as　wild　as　Pearl　herself。　　Her　final　employment　was　to　gather　sea…weed；　of　various　kinds；　andmake　herself　a　scarf；　or　mantle；　and　a　head…dress；　and　thus　assume　theaspect　of　a　little　mermaid。　She　inherited　her　mother's　gift　fordevising　drapery　and　costume。　As　the　last　touch　to　her　mermaid　garb；Pearl　took　some　eel…grass；　and　imitated；　as　best　she　could；　on　her　ownbosom；　the　decoration　with　which　she　was　so　familiar　on　hermother's。　A　letter…　the　letter　A…　but　freshly　green；　instead　ofscarlet！　The　child　bent　her　chin　upon　her　breast；　and　contemplatedthis　device　with　strange　interest；　even　as　if　the　one　only　thing　forwhich　she　had　been　sent　into　the　world　was　to　make　out　its　hiddenimport。　　〃I　wonder　if　mother　will　ask　me　what　it　means？〃　thought　Pearl。　　Just　then；　she　heard　her　mother's　voice；　and　flitting　along　aslightly　as　one　of　the　little　sea…birds；　appeared　before　Hester　Prynne；dancing；　laughing；　and　pointing　her　finger　to　the　ornament　upon　herbosom。　　〃My　little　Pearl；〃　said　Hester；　after　a　moment's　silence；　〃the　greenletter；　and　on　thy　childish　bosom；　has　no　purport。　But　dost　thou　know；my　child；　what　this　letter　means　which　thy　mother　is　doomed　to　wear？〃　　〃Yes；　mother；〃　said　the　child。　〃It　is　the　great　letter　A。　Thouhast　taught　me　in　the　horn…book。〃　　Hester　looked　steadily　into　her　little　face；　but；　though　there　wasthat　singular　expression　which　she　had　so　often　remarked　in　herblack　eyes；　she　could　not　satisfy　herself　whether　Pearl　reallyattached　any　meaning　to　the　symbol。　She　felt　a　morbid　desire　toascertain　the　point。　　〃Dost　thou　know；　child；　wherefore　thy　mother　wears　this　letter？〃　　〃Truly　do　I！〃　answered　Pearl；　looking　brightly　into　her　mother'sface。　〃It　is　for　the　same　reason　that　the　minister　keeps　his　hand　overhis　heart！〃　　〃And　what　reason　is　that？〃　asked　Hester；　half　smiling　at　theabsurd　incongruity　of　the　child's　observation；　but；　on　secondthoughts；　turning　pale。　〃What　has　the　letter　to　do　with　any　heart；save　mine？〃　　〃Nay；　mother；　I　have　told　all　I　know；〃　said　Pearl；　more　seriouslythan　she　was　wont　to　speak。　〃Ask　yonder　old　man　whom　thou　hast　beentalking　with！　It　may　be　he　can　tell。　But　in　good　earnest　now；　motherdear；　what　does　this　scarlet　letter　mean？…　and　why　dost　thou　wear　iton　thy　bosom？…　and　why　does　the　minister　keep　his　hand　over　hisheart？〃　　She　took　her　mother's　hand　in　both　her　own；　and　gazed　into　hereyes　with　an　earnestness　that　was　seldom　seen　in　her　wild　andcapricious　character。　The　thought　occurred　to　Hester；　that　the　childmight　really　be　seeking　to　approach　her　with　childlike　confidence；　anddoing　what　she　could；　and　as　intelligently　as　she　knew　how；　toestablish　a　meeting…point　of　sympathy。　It　showed　Pearl　in　anunwonted　aspect。　Heretofore；　the　mother；　while　loving　her　child　witht