第16部分(第5/7 頁)

　altogether　idly；　but；　for　the　moment；with　a　portion　of　genuine　earnestness；　for；　such　was　Pearl's　wonderfulintelligence；　that　her　mother　half　doubted　whether　she　were　notacquainted　with　the　secret　spell　of　her　existence；　and　might　not　nowreveal　herself。 〃Yes；　I　am　little　Pearl！〃　repeated　the　child；　continuing　her　antics。 〃Thou　art　not　my　child！　Thou　art　no　Pearl　of　mine！〃　said　the　mother；half　playfully；　for　it　was　often　the　case　that　a　sportive　impulse　cameover　her；　in　the　midst　of　her　deepest　suffering。　〃Tell　me；　then；what　thou　art；　and　who　sent　thee　hither？〃 〃Tell　me；　mother！〃　said　the　child　seriously；　ing　up　to　Hester；and　pressing　herself　close　to　her　knees。　〃Do　thou　tell　me！〃 〃Thy　Heavenly　Father　sent　thee！〃　answered　Hester　Prynne。 But　she　said　it　with　a　hesitation　that　did　not　escape　theacuteness　of　the　child。　Whether　moved　only　by　her　ordinaryfreakishness；　or　because　an　evil　spirit　prompted　her；　she　put　up　hersmall　forefinger；　and　touched　the　scarlet　letter。 〃He　did　not　send　me！〃　cried　she　positively。　〃I　have　no　HeavenlyFather！〃 〃Hush；　Pearl；　hush！　Thou　must　not　talk　so！〃　answered　the　mother；suppressing　a　groan。　〃He　sent　us　all　into　this　world。　He　sent　even　me；thy　mother。　Then；　much　more；　thee！　Or；　if　not；　thou　strange　and　elfishchild；　whence　didst　thou　e？〃 〃Tell　me！　Tell　me！〃　repeated　Pearl；　no　longer　seriously；　butlaughing；　and　capering　about　the　floor。　〃It　is　thou　that　must　tellme！〃 But　Hester　could　not　resolve　the　query；　being　herself　in　a　dismallabyrinth　of　doubt。　She　remembered…　betwixt　a　smile　and　a　shudder…　thetalk　of　the　neighbouring　townspeople；　who；　seeking　vainly　elsewherefor　the　child's　paternity；　and　observing　some　of　her　old　attributes；had　given　out　that　poor　little　Pearl　was　a　demon　offspring；　such　as；ever　since　old　Catholic　times；　had　oc