第27部分(第4/7 頁)

same　dark　question　often　rose　into　her　mind；　withreference　to　the　whole　race　of　womanhood。　Was　existence　worthaccepting；　even　to　the　happiest　among　them？　As　concerned　her　ownindividual　existence；　she　had　long　ago　decided　in　the　negative；　anddismissed　the　point　as　settled。　A　tendency　to　speculation；　though　itmay　keep　an；　yet　makes　her　sad。　She　discerns；it　may　be；　such　a　hopeless　task　before　her。　As　a　first　step；　the　wholesystem　of　society　is　to　be　torn　down；　and　built　up　anew。　Then；　thevery　nature　of　the　opposite　sex；　or　its　long　hereditary　habit；　whichhas　bee　like　nature；　is　to　be　essentially　modified；　before　womancan　be　allowed　to　assume　what　seems　a　fair　and　suitable　position。Finally；　all　other　difficulties　being　obviated；　woman　cannot　takeadvantage　of　these　preliminary　reforms；　until　she　herself　shall　haveundergone　a　still　mightier　change；　in　which；　perhaps；　the　etherealessence；　wherein　she　has　her　truest　life；　will　be　found　to　haveevaporated。　A　woman　never　overes　these　problems　by　any　exerciseof　thought。　They　are　not　to　be　solved；　or　only　in　one　way。　If　herheart　chance　to　e　uppermost；　they　vanish。　Thus；　Hester　Prynne；whose　heart　had　lost　its　regular　and　healthy　throb；　wandered　without　aclew　in　the　dark　labyrinth　of　mind；　now　turned　aside　by　aninsurmountable　precipice；　now　starting　back　from　a　deep　chasm。　Therewas　wild　and　ghastly　scenery　all　around　her；　and　a　home　and　fortnowhere。　At　times；　a　fearful　doubt　strove　to　possess　her　soul；　whetherit　were　not　better　to　send　Pearl　at　once　to　heaven；　and　go　herselfto　such　futurity　as　Eternal　Justice　should　provide。 The　scarlet　letter　had　not　done　its　office。 Now；　however；　her　interview　with　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale；　on　thenight　of　his　vigil；　had　given　her　a　new　theme　of　reflection；　andheld　up　to　her　an　object　that　appea