\"Iwonderifmotherwillaskmewhatitmeans？\"thoughtPearl。
Justthen，sheheardhermother’svoice，andflittingalongaslightlyasoneofthelittlesea—birds，appearedbeforeHesterPrynne，dancing，laughing，andpointingherfingertotheornamentuponherbosom。
\"MylittlePearl，\"saidHester，afteramoment’ssilence，\"thegreenletter，andonthychildishbosom，hasnopurport。Butdostthouknow，mychild，whatthislettermeanswhichthymotherisdoomedtowear？\"
\"Yes，mother，\"saidthechild。\"ItisthegreatletterA。Thouhasttaughtmeinthehorn—book。\"
Hesterlookedsteadilyintoherlittleface；but，thoughtherewasthatsingularexpressionwhichshehadsooftenremarkedinherblackeyes，shecouldnotsatisfyherselfwhetherPearlreallyattachedanymeaningtothesymbol。Shefeltamorbiddesiretoascertainthepoint。