第38部分(第3/7 頁)

rd　at　his　side；　and　a　sword…cut　on　his　forehead；　which；by　the　arrangement　of　his　hair；　he　seemed　anxious　rather　to　displaythan　hide。　A　landsman　could　hardly　have　worn　this　garb　and　shownthis　face；　and　worn　and　shown　them　both　with　such　a　galliard　air；without　undergoing　stern　question　before　a　magistrate；　and　probablyincurring　fine　or　imprisonment；　or　perhaps　an　exhibition　in　thestocks。　As　regarded　the　shipmaster；　however；　all　was　looked　upon　aspertaining　to　the　character；　as　to　a　fish　his　glistening　scales。 After　parting　from　the　physician；　the　mander　of　the　Bristolship　strolled　idly　through　the　market…place；　until；　happening　toapproach　the　spot　where　Hester　Prynne　was　standing；　he　appeared　torecognise；　and　did　not　hesitate　to　address　her。　As　was　usually　thecase　wherever　Hester　stood；　a　small　vacant　area…　a　sort　of　magiccircle…　had　formed　itself　about　her；　into　which；　though　the　peoplewere　elbowing　one　another　at　a　little　distance；　none　ventured；　or　feltdisposed　to　intrude。　It　was　a　forcible　type　of　the　moral　solitude　inwhich　the　scarlet　letter　enveloped　its　fated　wearer；　partly　by　her　ownreserve；　and　partly　by　the　instinctive；　though　no　longer　sounkindly；　withdrawal　of　her　fellow…creatures。　Now；　if　never　before；　itanswered　a　good　purpose；　by　enabling　Hester　and　the　seaman　to　speaktogether　without　the　risk　of　being　overheard；　and　so　changed　wasHester　Prynne's　repute　before　the　public；　that　the　matron　in　town　mosteminent　for　rigid　morality　could　not　have　held　such　intercourse　withless　result　of　scandal　than　herself。 〃So；　mistress；〃　said　the　mariner；　〃I　must　bid　the　steward　make　readyone　more　berth　than　you　bargained　for！　No　fear　of　scurvy　orship…fever；　this　voyage！　What　with　the　ship's　surgeon　and　this　otherdoctor；　our　only　danger　will　be　from　drug　or　pill；　more　by　tok