第29部分(第5/7 頁)

　anunwonted　aspect。　Heretofore；　the　mother；　while　loving　her　child　withthe　intensity　of　a　soul　affection；　had　schooled　herself　to　hope　forlittle　other　return　than　the　waywardness　of　an　April　breeze；　whichspends　its　time　in　airy　sport；　and　has　its　gusts　of　inexplicablepassion；　and　is　petulant　in　its　best　of　moods；　and　chills　oftener　thancaresses　you；　when　you　take　it　to　your　bosom；　in　requital　of　whichmisdemeanours；　it　will　sometimes；　of　its　own　vague　purpose；　kissyour　cheek　with　a　kind　of　doubtful　tenderness；　and　play　gently　withyour　hair；　and　then　be　gone　about　its　other　idle　business；　leaving　adreamy　pleasure　at　your　heart。　And　this；　moreover；　was　a　mother'sestimate　of　the　child's　disposition。　Any　other　observer　might　haveseen　few　but　unamiable　traits；　and　have　given　them　a　far　darkercolouring。　But　now　the　idea　came　strongly　into　Hester's　mind；　thatPearl；　with　her　remarkable　precocity　and　acuteness；　might　already　haveapproached　the　age　when　she　could　be　made　a　friend；　and　entrusted　withas　much　of　her　mother's　sorrows　as　could　be　imparted；　withoutirreverence　either　to　the　parent　or　the　child。　In　the　little　chaosof　Pearl's　character；　there　might　be　seen　emerging…　and　could　havebeen；　from　the　very　first…　the　steadfast　principles　of　anunflinching　courage…　an　uncontrollable　will…　a　sturdy　pride；　whichmight　be　disciplined　into　self…respect…　and　a　bitter　scorn　of　manythings；　which；　when　examined；　might　be　found　to　have　the　taint　offalsehood　in　them。　She　possessed　affections；　too；　though　hithertoacrid　and　disagreeable；　as　are　the　richest　flavours　of　unripe　fruit。With　all　these　sterling　attributes；　thought　Hester；　the　evil　which　sheinherited　from　her　mother　must　be　great　indeed；　if　a　noble　woman　donot　grow　out　of　this　elfish　child。 Pearl's　inevitable　tendency　to　hover　about　t