第26部分(第2/7 頁)

。　I　had　spent　the　better　part　of　the　night　at　thebedside　of　the　worshipful　Governor　Winthrop；　doing　what　my　poorskill　might　to　give　him　ease。　He　going　home　to　a　better　world；　I；likewise；　was　on　my　way　homeward；　when　this　strange　light　shone　out。e　with　me；　I　beseech　you；　reverend　sir；　else　you　will　be　poorlyable　to　do　Sabbath　duty　to…morrow。　Aha！　see　now；　how　they　troublethe　brain…　these　books！…　these　books！　You　should　study　less；　good　sir；and　take　a　little　pastime；　or　these　night…whimseys　will　grow　uponyou。〃 〃I　will　go　home　with　you；〃　said　Mr。　Dimmesdale。 With　a　chill　despondency；　like　one　awaking；　all　nerveless；　from　anugly　dream；　be　yielded　himself　to　the　physician；　and　was　led　away。 The　next　day；　however；　being　the　Sabbath；　he　preached　a　discoursewhich　was　held　to　be　the　richest　and　most　powerful；　and　the　mostreplete　with　heavenly　influences；　that　had　ever　proceeded　from　hislips。　Souls；　it　is　said；　more　souls　than　one；　were　brought　to　thetruth　by　the　efficacy　of　that　sermon；　and　vowed　within　themselves　tocherish　a　holy　gratitude　towards　Mr。　Dimmesdale　throughout　the　longhereafter。　But；　as　he　came　down　the　pulpit　steps；　the　grey…beardedsexton　met　him；　holding　up　a　black　glove；　which　the　ministerrecognised　as　his　own。 〃It　was　found；〃　said　the　sexton；　〃this　morning；　on　the　scaffoldwhere　evil…doers　are　set　up　to　public　shame。　Satan　dropped　it　there；　Itake　it；　intending　a　scurrilous　jest　against　your　reverence。　But；indeed；　he　was　blind　and　foolish；　as　he　ever　and　always　is。　A　purehand　needs　no　glove　to　cover　it！〃 〃Thank　you；　my　good　friend；〃　said　the　minister　gravely；　but　startledat　heart；　for；　so　confused　was　his　remembrance；　that　he　had　almostbrought　himself　to　look　at　the　events　of　the　past　night　asvisionary。　〃Yes；　it　seems　to　be　my　glove；　indeed！〃 〃And；　since　Sa