第22部分(第3/7 頁)

b。　Taking　a　handful　of　these；　she　arrangedthem　along　the　lines　of　the　scarlet　letter　that　decorated　the　maternalbosom；　to　which　the　burrs；　as　their　nature　was；　tenaciously　adhered。Hester　did　not　pluck　them　off。 Roger　Chillingworth　had　by　this　time　approached　the　window；　andsmiled　grimly　down。 〃There　is　no　law；　nor　reverence　for　authority；　no　regard　for　humanordinances　or　opinions；　right　or　wrong；　mixed　up　with　that　child'sposition；〃　remarked　her；　as　much　to　himself　as　to　his　panion。　〃Isaw　her；　the　other　day；　bespatter　the　Governor　himself　with　water；at　the　cattle…trough　in　Spring　Lane。　What；　in　Heaven's　name；　is　she？Is　the　imp　altogether　evil？　Hath　she　affections？　Hath　she　anydiscoverable　principle　of　being？〃 〃None…　save　the　freedom　of　a　broken　law；〃　answered　Mr。　Dimmesdale；in　a　quiet　way；　as　if　he　had　been　discussing　the　point　within　himself。〃Whether　capable　of　good　I　know　not。〃 The　child　probably　overheard　their　voices；　for；　looking　up　to　thewindow；　with　a　bright；　but　naughty　smile　of　mirth　and　intelligence；she　threw　one　of　the　prickly　burrs　at　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale。　Thesensitive　clergyman　shrunk；　with　nervous　dread；　from　the　lightmissile。　Detecting　his　emotion；　Pearl　clapped　her　little　hands；　in　themost　extravagant　ecstasy。　Hester　Prynne；　likewise；　had　involuntarilylooked　up；　and　all　these　four　persons；　old　and　young；　regarded　oneanother　in　silence；　till　the　child　laughed　aloud；　and　shouted；　〃eaway；　mother！　e　away；　or　yonder　old　Black　Man　will　catch　you！　Hehath　got　hold　of　the　minister　already。　e　away；　mother；　or　he　willcatch　you！　But　he　cannot　catch　little　Pearl！〃 So　she　drew　her　mother　away；　skipping；　dancing；　and　friskingfantastically；　among　the　hillocks　of　the　dead　people；　like　acreature　that　had　nothing　in　mon　with　a　bygone　and　buriedgeneration；　nor　o