Thedisciplineofthefamily，inthosedays，wasofafarmorerigidkindthannow。Thefrown，theharshrebuke，thefrequentapplicationoftherod，enjoinedbyScripturalauthority，wereused，notmerelyinthewayofpunishmentforactualoffences，butasawholesomeregimenforthegrowthandpromotionofallchildishvirtues。HesterPrynne，nevertheless，thelonelymotherofthisonechild，ranlittleriskoferringonthesideofundueseverity。Mindful，however，ofherownerrorsandmisfortunes，sheearlysoughttoimposeatender，butstrictcontrolovertheinfantimmortalitythatwascommittedtohercharge。Butthetaskwasbeyondherskill。Aftertestingbothsmilesandfrowns，andprovingthatneithermodeoftreatmentpossessedanycalculableinfluence，Hesterwasultimatelycompelledtostandaside，andpermitthechildtobeswayedbyherownimpulses。Physicalcompulsionorrestraintwaseffectual，ofcourse，whileitlasted。Astoanyotherkindofdiscipline，whetheraddressedtohermindorheart，littlePearlmightormightnotbewithinitsreach，inaccordancewiththecapricethatruledthemoment。Hermother，whilePearlwasyetaninfant，grewacquaintedwithacertainpeculiarlook，thatwarnedherwhenitwouldbelabourthrownawaytoinsist，persuade，orplead。Itwasalooksointelligent，yetinexplicable，soperverse，sometimessomalicious，butgenerallyaccompaniedbyawildflowofspirits，thatHestercouldnothelpquestioning，atsuchmoments，whetherPearlwasahumanchild。Sheseemedratheranairysprite，which，afterplayingitsfantasticsportsforalittlewhileuponthecottage—floor，wouldflitawaywithamockingsmile。Wheneverthatlookappearedinherwild，bright，deeplyblackeyes，itinvestedherwithastrangeremotenessandintangibility；itwasasifshewerehoveringintheairandmightvanish，likeaglimmeringlight，thatcomesweknownotwhence，andgoesweknownotwhither。Beholdingit，Hesterwasconstrainedtorushtowardsthechild—topursuethelittleelfintheflightwhichsheinvariablybegan—tosnatchhertoherbosom，withaclosepressureandearnestkisses—notsomuchfromoverflowinglove，astoassureherselfthatPearlwasfleshandblood，andnotutterlydelusive。
ButPearl’slaugh，whenshewascaught，thoughfullofmerrimentandmusic，madehermothermoredoubtfulthanbefore。
Heart—smittenatthisbewilderingandbafflingspell，thatsooftencamebetweenherselfandhersoletreasure，whomshehadboughtsodear，andwhowasallherworld，Hestersometimesburstintopassionatetears。Then，perhaps—fortherewasnoforeseeinghowitmightaffecther—Pearlwouldfrown，andclenchherlittlefist，andhardenhersmallfeaturesintoastern，unsympathisinglookofdiscontent。Notseldom，shewouldlaughanew，andlouderthanbefore，likeathingincapableandunintelligentofhumansorrow。
Or—butthismorerarelyhappened—shewouldbeconvulsedwitharageofgrief，andsoboutherloveforhermother，inbrokenwords，andseemintentonprovingthatshehadaheart，bybreakingit。YetHesterwashardlysafeinconfidingherselftothatgustytenderness；itpassed，assuddenlyasitcame。Broodingoverallthesematters，themotherfeltlikeonewhohasevokedaspirit，but，bysomeirregularityintheprocessofconjuration，hasfailedtowinthemaster—wordthatshouldcontrolthisnewandincomprehensibleintelligence。Heronlyrealcomfortwaswhenthechildlayintheplacidityofsleep。Thenshewassureofher，andtastedhoursofquiet，sad，delicioushappiness；until—perhapswiththatperverseexpressionglimmeringfrombeneathheropeninglids—littlePearlawoke！
Howsoon—withwhatstrangerapidity，indeed！—didPearlarriveatanagethatwascapableofsocialintercourse，beyondthemother’sever—readysmileandnonsense—words！Andthenwhatahappinesswouldithavebeen，couldHesterPrynnehaveheardherclear，birdlikevoiceminglingwiththeuproarofotherchildishvoices，andhavedistinguishedandunravelledherowndarling’stones，amidalltheentangledoutcryofagroupofsportivechildren！Butthiscouldneverbe。Pearlwasabornoutcastoftheinfantileworld。Animpofevil，emblemandproductofsin，shehadnorightamongchristenedinfants。Nothingwasmoreremarkablethantheinstinct，asitseemed，withwhichthechildcomprehendedherloneliness；thedestinythathaddrawnaninviolablecircleroundabouther；thewholepeculiarity，inshort，ofherpositioninrespecttootherchildren。