第32部分(第4/7 頁)

ess　plainly　to　beseen　at　every　step；　until；　some　few　miles　hence；　the　yellow　leaveswill　show　no　vestige　of　the　white　man's　tread。　There　thou　art　free！　Sobrief　a　journey　would　bring　thee　from　a　world　where　thou　hast　beenmost　wretched；　to　one　where　thou　mayest　still　be　happy！　Is　there　notshade　enough　in　all　this　boundless　forest　to　hide　thy　heart　from　thegaze　of　Roger　Chillingworth？〃 〃Yes；　Hester；　but　only　under　the　fallen　leaves！〃　replied　theminister；　with　a　sad　smile。 〃Then　there　is　the　broad　pathway　of　the　sea！〃　continued　Hester。〃It　brought　thee　hither。　If　thou　so　choose；　it　will　bear　thee　backagain。　In　our　native　land；　whether　in　some　remote　rural　village　orin　vast　London…　or；　surely；　in　Germany；　in　France；　in　pleasantItaly…　thou　wouldst　be　beyond　his　power　and　knowledge！　And　what　hastthou　to　do　with　all　these　iron　men；　and　their　opinions？　They　have　keptthy　better　part　in　bondage　too　long　already！〃 〃It　cannot　be！〃　answered　the　minister；　listening　as　if　he　werecalled　upon　to　realise　a　dream。　〃I　am　powerless　to　go！　Wretched　andsinful　as　I　am；　I　have　had　no　other　thought　than　to　drag　on　my　earthlyexistence　in　the　sphere　where　Providence　hath　placed　me。　Lost　as　myown　soul　is；　I　would　still　do　what　I　may　for　other　human　souls！　I　darenot　quit　my　post；　though　an　unfaithful　sentinel；　whose　sure　rewardis　death　and　dishonour；　when　his　dreary　watch　shall　e　to　an　end！〃 〃Thou　art　crushed　under　this　seven　years'　weight　of　misery；〃　repliedHester；　fervently　resolved　to　buoy　him　up　with　her　own　energy。　〃Butthou　shalt　leave　it　all　behind　thee！　It　shall　not　cumber　thy　steps；　asthou　treadest　along　the　forest…path；　neither　shalt　thou　freight　theship　with　it；　if　thou　prefer　to　cross　the　sea。　Leave　this　wreck　andruin　here　where　it　hath　happened。　Meddle　no　more　with　it！　Begin　allanew！　Ha