第28部分(第2/7 頁)

or　seven　years；　to　the　constant　analysis　of　a　heart　fullof　torture；　and　deriving　his　enjoyment　thence；　and　adding　fuel　tothose　fiery　tortures　which　he　analysed　and　gloated　over。 The　scarlet　letter　burned　on　Hester　Prynne's　bosom。　Here　was　anotherruin；　the　responsibility　of　which　came　partly　home　to　her。 〃What　see　you　in　my　face；〃　asked　the　physician；　〃that　you　look　at　itso　earnestly？〃 〃Something　that　would　make　me　weep；　if　there　were　any　tears　bitterenough　for　it；〃　answered　she。　〃But　let　it　pass！　It　is　of　yondermiserable　man　that　I　would　speak。〃 〃And　what　of　him？〃　cried　Roger　Chillingworth　eagerly；　as　if　he　lovedthe　topic；　and　were　glad　of　an　opportunity　to　discuss　it　with　the　onlyperson　of　whom　he　could　make　a　confidant。　〃Not　to　hide　the　truth；Mistress　Hester；　my　thoughts　happen　just　now　to　be　busy　with　thegentleman。　So　speak　freely；　and　I　will　make　answer。〃 〃When　we　last　spake　together；〃　said　Hester；　〃now　seven　years　ago；　itwas　your　pleasure　to　extort　a　promise　of　secrecy；　as　touching　theformer　relation　betwixt　yourself　and　me。　As　the　life　and　good　fameof　yonder　man　were　in　your　hands；　there　seemed　no　choice　to　me；　saveto　be　silent；　in　accordance　with　your　behest。　Yet　it　was　not　withoutheavy　misgivings　that　I　thus　bound　myself；　for；　having　cast　off　allduty　towards　other　human　beings；　there　remained　a　duty　towards　him；and　something　whispered　me　that　I　was　betraying　it；　in　pledging　myselfto　keep　your　counsel。　Since　that　day；　no　man　is　so　near　to　him　as　you。You　tread　behind　his　every　footstep。　You　are　beside　him；　sleepingand　waking。　You　search　his　thoughts。　You　burrow　and　rankle　in　hisheart！　Your　clutch　is　on　his　life；　and　you　cause　him　to　die　daily　aliving　death；　and　still　he　knows　you　not。　In　permitting　this；　I　havesurely　acted　a　false　part　by　the　only　man　to　whom