第39部分(第3/7 頁)

not　be　sure　that　it　was　he；　so　strange　he　looked；〃continued　the　child。　〃Else　I　would　have　run　to　him；　and　bid　him　kissme　now；　before　all　the　people；　even　as　he　did　yonder　among　the　darkold　trees。　What　would　the　minister　have　said；　mother？　Would　he　haveclapped　his　hand　over　his　heart；　and　scowled　on　me；　and　bid　mebegone？〃 〃What　should　he　say；　Pearl？〃　answered　Hester；　〃save　that　it　was　notime　to　kiss；　and　that　kisses　are　not　to　be　given　in　the　market…place？Well　for　thee；　foolish　child；　that　thou　didst　not　speak　to　him！〃 Another　shade　of　the　same　sentiment；　in　reference　to　Mr。　Dimmesdale；was　expressed　by　a　person　whose　eccentricities…　or　insanity；　as　weshould　term　it…　led　her　to　do　what　few　of　the　townspeople　would　haveventured　on；　to　begin　a　conversation　with　the　wearer　of　the　scarletletter；　in　public。　It　was　Mistress　Hibbins；　who；　arrayed　in　greatmagnificence；　with　a　triple　ruff；　a　broidered　stomacher；　a　gown　ofrich　velvet；　and　a　gold…headed　cane；　had　e　forth　to　see　theprocession。　As　this　ancient　lady　had　the　renown　（which　subsequentlycost　her　no　less　a　price　than　her　life）　of　being　a　principal　actorin　all　the　works　of　necromancy　that　were　continually　going　forward；the　crowd　gave　way　before　her；　and　seemed　to　fear　the　touch　of　hergarment；　as　if　it　carried　the　plague　among　its　gorgeous　folds。　Seen　inconjunction　with　Hester　Prynne…　kindly　as　so　many　now　felt　towards　thelatter…　the　dread　inspired　by　Mistress　Hibbins　was　doubled；　and　causeda　general　movement　from　that　part　of　the　market…place　in　which　the　twowomen　stood。 〃Now；　what　mortal　imagination　could　conceive　it！〃　whispered　theold　lady；　confidentially；　to　Hester。　〃Yonder　divine　man！　That　saint　onearth；　as　the　people　uphold　him　to　be；　and　as…　I　must　needs　say…　hereally　looks！　Who；　now；　that　saw　him　pass　in　the　proces