第31部分(第3/7 頁)

n　the　mirror　of　the　passing　moment。　It　was　with　fear；　andtremulously；　and；　as　it　were；　by　a　slow；　reluctant　necessity；　thatArthur　Dimmesdale　put　forth　his　hand；　chill　as　death；　and　touchedthe　chill　hand　of　Hester　Prynne。　The　grasp；　cold　as　it　was；　tookaway　what　was　dreariest　in　the　interview。　They　now　felt　themselves；　atleast；　inhabitants　of　the　same　sphere。 Without　a　word　more　spoken…　neither　he　nor　she　assuming　theguidance；　but　with　an　unexpressed　consent…　they　glided　back　into　theshadow　of　the　woods；　whence　Hester　had　emerged；　and　sat　down　on　theheap　of　moss　where　she　and　Pearl　had　before　been　sitting。　When　theyfound　voice　to　speak；　it　was；　at　first；　only　to　utter　remarks　andinquiries　such　as　any　tight　have　made；　about　thegloomy　sky；　the　threatening　storm；　and；　next；　the　health　of　each。　Thusthey　went　onward；　not　boldly；　but　step　by　step；　into　the　themes　thatwere　brooding　deepest　in　their　hearts。　So　long　estranged　by　fate　andcircumstances；　they　needed　something　slight　and　casual　to　runbefore；　and　throw　open　the　doors　of　intercourse；　so　that　their　realthoughts　might　be　led　across　the　threshold。 After　a　while；　the　minister　fixed　his　eyes　on　Hester　Prynne's。 〃Hester；〃　said　he；　〃hast　thou　found　peace？〃 She　smiled　drearily；　looking　down　upon　her　bosom。 〃Hast　thou？〃　she　asked。 〃None！…　nothing　but　despair！〃　he　answered。　〃What　else　could　I　lookfor；　being　what　I　am；　and　leading　such　a　life　as　mine？　Were　I　anatheist…　a　man　devoid　of　conscience…　a　wretch　with　coarse　and　brutalinstincts…　I　might　have　found　peace；　long　ere　now。　Nay；　I　never　shouldhave　lost　it！　But；　as　matters　stand　with　my　soul；　whatever　of　goodcapacity　there　originally　was　in　me；　all　of　God's　gifts　that　werethe　choicest　have　bee　the　ministers　of　spiritual　torment。　Hester；　Iam　most　miserable。〃 〃The　people　r