第26部分(第5/7 頁)

while　Hester　never　put　forward　eventhe　humblest　title　to　share　in　the　world's　privileges…　further　than　tobreathe　the　mon　air；　and　earn　daily　bread　for　little　Pearl　andherself　by　the　faithful　labour　of　her　hands…　she　was　quick　toacknowledge　her　sisterhood　with　the　race　of　man；　whenever　benefitswere　to　be　conferred。　None　so　ready　as　she　to　give　of　her　littlesubstance　to　every　demand　of　poverty；　even　though　the　bitter…heartedpauper　threw　back　a　gibe　in　requital　of　the　food　brought　regularlyto　his　door；　or　the　garments　wrought　for　him　by　the　fingers　that　couldhave　embroidered　a　monarch's　robe。　None　so　self…devoted　as　Hester；when　pestilence　stalked　through　the　town。　In　all　seasons　ofcalamity；　indeed；　whether　general　or　of　individuals；　the　outcast　ofsociety　at　once　found　her　place。　She　came；　not　as　a　guest；　but　as　arightful　inmate　into　the　household　that　was　darkened　by　trouble；　as　ifits　gloomy　twilight　were　a　medium　in　which　she　was　entitled　to　holdintercourse　with　her　fellow…creatures。　There　glimmered　the　embroideredletter；　with　fort　in　its　unearthly　ray。　Elsewhere　the　token　of　sin；it　was　the　taper　of　the　sick…chamber。　It　had　even　thrown　its　gleam；　inthe　sufferer's　hard　extremity；　across　the　verge　of　time。　It　hadshown　him　where　to　set　his　foot；　while　the　light　of　earth　was　fastbeing　dim；　and　ere　the　light　of　futurity　could　reach　him。　In　suchemergencies；　Hester's　nature　showed　itself　warm　and　rich；　awell…spring　of　human　tenderness；　unfailing　to　every　real　demand；　andinexhaustible　by　the　largest。　Her　breast；　with　its　badge　of　shame；　wasbut　the　softer　pillow　for　the　head　that　needed　one。　She　wasself…ordained　a　Sister　of　Mercy；　or；　we　may　rather　say；　the　world'sheavy　hand　had　so　ordained　her；　when　neither　the　world　nor　shelooked　forward　to　this　result。　The　letter　was　the　symbol