第16部分(第4/7 頁)

shebeheld；　not　her　own　miniature　portrait；　but　another　face；　in　the　smallblack　mirror　of　Pearl's　eye。　It　was　a　face　fiend…like；　full　of　smilingmalice；　yet　bearing　the　semblance　of　features　that　she　had　knownfull　well；　though　seldom　with　a　smile；　and　never　with　malice　inthem。　It　was　as　if　an　evil　spirit　possessed　the　child；　and　had　justthen　peeped　forth　in　mockery。　Many　a　time　afterwards　had　Hester　beentortured；　though　less　vividly；　by　the　same　illusion。 In　the　afternoon　of　a　certain　summer's　day；　after　Pearl　grew　bigenough　to　run　about；　she　amused　herself　with　gathering　handfuls　ofwild…flowers；　and　flinging　them；　one　by　one；　at　her　mother's　bosom；dancing　up　and　down；　like　a　little　elf；　whenever　she　hit　the　scarletletter。　Hester's　first　motion　had　been　to　cover　her　bosom　with　herclasped　hands。　But；　whether　from　pride　or　resignation；　or　a　feelingthat　her　penance　might　best　be　wrought　out　by　this　unutterable　pain；she　resisted　the　impulse；　and　sat　erect；　pale　as　death；　lookingsadly　into　little　Pearl's　wild　eyes。　Still　came　the　battery　offlowers；　almost　invariably　hitting　the　mark；　and　covering　the　mother'sbreast　with　hurts　for　which　she　could　find　no　balm　in　this　world；nor　knew　how　to　seek　it　in　another。　At　last；　her　shot　being　allexpended；　the　child　stood　still　and　gazed　at　Hester；　with　thatlittle　laughing　image　of　a　fiend　peeping　out…　or；　whether　it　peeped　orno；　her　mother　so　imagined　it…　from　the　unsearchable　abyss　of　herblack　eyes。 〃Child；　what　art　thou？〃　cried　the　mother。 〃Oh；　I　am　your　little　Pearl！〃　answered　the　child。 But；　while　she　said　it；　Pearl　laughed；　and　began　to　dance　up　anddown；　with　the　humorsome　gesticulation　of　a　little　imp；　whose　nextfreak　might　be　to　fly　up　the　chimney。 〃Art　thou　my　child；　in　very　truth？〃　asked　Hester。 Nor　did　she　put　the　question