第39部分(第2/7 頁)

　knew　not；unless　that　he　seemed　so　remote　from　her　own　sphere；　and　utterlybeyond　her　reach。　One　glance　of　recognition；　she　had　imagined；　mustneeds　pass　between　them。　She　thought　of　the　dim　forest；　with　itslittle　dell　of　solitude；　and　love；　and　anguish；　and　the　mossytree…trunk；　where；　sitting　hand　in　hand；　they　had　mingled　their　sadand　passionate　talk　with　the　melancholy　murmur　of　the　brook。　Howdeeply　had　they　known　each　other　then！　And　was　this　the　man？　Shehardly　knew　him　now！　He；　moving　proudly　past；　enveloped；　as　it　were；in　the　rich　music；　with　the　procession　of　majestic　and　venerablefathers；　he；　so　unattainable　in　his　worldly　position；　and　still　moreso　in　that　far　vista　of　his　unsympathising　thoughts；　through　which　shenow　beheld　him！　Her　spirit　sank　with　the　idea　that　all　must　havebeen　a　delusion；　and　that；　vividly　as　she　had　dreamed　it；　therecould　be　no　real　bond　betwixt　the　clergyman　and　herself。　And　thus　muchof　woman　was　there　in　Hester；　that　she　could　scarcely　forgive　him…least　of　all　now；　when　the　heavy　footstep　of　their　approaching　Fatemight　be　heard；　nearer；　nearer；　nearer！…　for　being　able　sopletely　to　withdraw　himself　from　their　mutual　world；　while　shegroped　darkly；　and　stretched　forth　her　cold　hands；　and　found　him　not。 Pearl　either　saw　and　responded　to　her　mother's　feelings；　orherself　felt　the　remoteness　and　intangibility　that　had　fallen　aroundthe　minister。　While　the　procession　passed；　the　child　was　uneasy；fluttering　up　and　down；　like　a　bird　on　the　point　of　taking　flight。When　the　whole　had　gone　by；　she　looked　up　into　Hester's　face。 〃Mother；〃　said　she；　〃was　that　the　same　minister　that　kissed　me　bythe　brook？〃 〃Hold　thy　peace；　dear　little　Pearl！〃　whispered　her　mother。　〃Wemust　not　always　talk　in　the　market…place　of　what　happens　to　us　inthe　forest。〃 〃I　could