第10部分(第5/7 頁)

HesterPrynne；　that　one　of　this　man's　shoulders　rose　higher　than　the　other。Again；　at　the　first　instant　of　perceiving　that　thin　visage；　and　theslight　deformity　of　the　figure；　she　pressed　her　infant　to　her　bosomwith　so　convulsive　a　force　that　the　poor　babe　uttered　another　cry　ofpain。　But　the　mother　did　not　seem　to　hear　it。 At　his　arrival　in　the　market…place；　and　some　time　before　she　sawhim；　the　stranger　had　bent　his　eyes　on　Hester　Prynne。　It　wascarelessly；　at　first；　like　a　man　chiefly　accustomed　to　look　inward；and　to　whom　external　matters　are　of　little　value　and　import；　unlessthey　bear　relation　to　something　within　his　mind。　Very　soon；　however；his　look　became　keen　and　perative。　A　writhing　horror　twisted　itselfacross　his　features；　like　a　snake　gliding　swiftly　over　them；　andmaking　one　little　pause；　with　all　its　wreathed　intervolutions；　in　opensight。　His　face　darkened　with　some　powerful　emotion；　which；nevertheless；　he　so　instantaneously　controlled　by　an　effort　of　hiswill；　that；　save　at　a　single　moment；　its　expression　might　havepassed　for　calmness。　After　a　brief　space；　the　convulsion　grew　almostimperceptible；　and　finally　subsided　into　the　depths　of　his　nature。When　he　found　the　eyes　of　Hester　Prynne　fastened　on　his　own；　and　sawthat　she　appeared　to　recognise　him；　he　slowly　and　calmly　raised　hisfinger；　made　a　gesture　with　it　in　the　air；　and　laid　it　on　his　lips。 Then；　touching　the　shoulder　of　a　townsman　who　stood　next　to　him；he　addressed　him；　in　a　formal　and　courteous　manner。 〃I　pray　you；　good　sir；〃　said　he；　〃who　is　this　woman？…　andwherefore　is　she　here　set　up　to　public　shame？〃 〃You　must　needs　be　a　stranger　in　this　region；　friend；〃　answeredthe　townsman；　looking　curiously　at　the　questioner　and　his　savagepanion；　〃else　you　would　surely　have　heard　of　Mistress　HesterPrynne；　and　her