第19部分(第4/7 頁)

d　a　question　whether　even　her　tiptoes　touched　the　floor。 〃The　little　baggage　had　witchcraft　in　her；　I　profess；〃　said　he　toMr。　Dimmesdale。　〃She　needs　no　old　woman's　broomstick　to　fly　withal！〃 〃A　strange　child！〃　remarked　old　Roger　Chillingworth。　〃It　is　easyto　see　the　mother's　part　in　her。　Would　it　be　beyond　a　philosopher'sresearch；　think　ye；　gentlemen；　to　analyse　that　child's　nature；　and；from　its　make　and　mould；　to　give　a　shrewd　guess　at　the　father？〃 〃Nay；　it　would　be　sinful；　in　such　a　question；　to　follow　the　clewof　profane　philosophy；〃　said　Mr。　Wilson。　〃Better　to　fast　and　pray　uponit；　and　still　better；　it　may　be；　to　leave　the　mystery　as　we　find　it；unless　Providence　reveal　it　of　its　own　accord。　Thereby；　every　goodChristian　man　hath　a　title　to　show　a　father's　kindness　towards　thepoor；　deserted　babe。〃 The　affair　being　so　satisfactorily　concluded；　Hester　Prynne；　withPearl；　departed　from　the　house。　As　they　descended　the　steps；　it　isaverred　that　the　lattice　of　a　chamber…window　was　thrown　open；　andforth　into　the　sunny　day　was　thrust　the　face　of　Mistress　Hibbins；Governor　Bellingham's　bitter…tempered　sister；　and　the　same　who；　afew　years　later；　was　executed　as　a　witch。 〃Hist；　hist！〃　said　she；　while　her　ill…omened　physiognomy　seemed　tocast　a　shadow　over　the　cheerful　newness　of　the　house。　〃Wilt　thou　gowith　us　to…night？　There　will　be　a　merry　pany　in　the　forest；　and　Iwell…nigh　promised　the　Black　Man　that　ely　Hester　Prynne　should　makeone。〃 〃Make　my　excuse　to　him；　so　please　you！〃　answered　Hester；　with　atriumphant　smile。　〃I　must　tarry　at　home；　and　keep　watch　over　my　littlePearl。　Had　they　taken　her　from　me；　I　would　willingly　have　gone　withthee　into　the　forest；　and　signed　my　name　in　the　Black　Man's　booktoo；　and　that　with　mine　own　blood！〃 〃We　shall　have　thee　there　anon！〃　said　the　wit