THEPRISON—DOOR。
ATHRONGofbeardedmen，insad—colouredgarments，andgrey，steeple—crownedhats，intermixedwithwomen，somewearinghoods，andothersbareheaded，wasassembledinfrontofawoodenedifice，thedoorofwhichwasheavilytimberedwithoak，andstuddedwithironspikes。
Thefoundersofanewcolony，whateverUtopiaofhumanvirtueandhappinesstheymightoriginallyproject，haveinvariablyrecogniseditamongtheirearliestpracticalnecessitiestoallotaportionofthevirginsoilasacemetery，andanotherportionasthesiteofaprison。Inaccordancewiththisrule，itmaysafelybeassumedthattheforefathersofBostonhadbuiltthefirstprison—housesomewhereinthevicinityofCornhill，almostasseasonablyastheymarkedoutthefirstburial—ground，onIsaacJohnson’slot，androundabouthisgrave，whichsubsequentlybecamethenucleusofallthecongregatedsepulchresintheoldchurchyardofKing’sChapel。Certainitisthat，somefifteenortwentyyearsafterthesettlementofthetown，thewoodenjailwasalreadymarkedwithweather—stainsandotherindicationsofage，whichgaveayetdarkeraspecttoitsbeetle—browedandgloomyfront。Therustontheponderousiron—workofitsoakendoorlookedmoreantiquethananythingelseintheNewWorld。Likeallthatpertainstocrime，itseemednevertohaveknownayouthfulera。Beforethisuglyedifice，andbetweenitandthewheel—trackofthestreet，wasagrass—plot，muchovergrownwithburdock，pig—weed，apple—peru，andsuchunsightlyvegetation，whichevidentlyfoundsomethingcongenialinthesoilthathadsoearlybornetheblackflowerofcivilisedsociety，aprison。But，ononesideoftheportal，androotedalmostatthethreshold，wasawildrose—bush，covered，inthismonthofJune，withitsdelicategems，whichmightbeimaginedtooffertheirfragranceandfragilebeautytotheprisonerashewentin，andtothecondemnedcriminalashecameforthtohisdoom，intokenthatthedeepheartofNaturecouldpityandbekindtohim。
Thisrose—bush，byastrangechance，hasbeenkeptaliveinhistory；
butwhetherithadmerelysurvivedoutofthesternoldwilderness，solongafterthefallofthegiganticpinesandoaksthatoriginallyovershadowedit—orwhether，asthereisfairauthorityforbelieving，ithadsprungupunderthefootstepsofthesaintedAnnHutchinson，assheenteredtheprison—door—weshallnottakeuponustodetermine。
Findingitsodirectlyonthethresholdofournarrative，whichisnowabouttoissuefromthatinauspiciousportal，wecouldhardlydootherwisethanpluckoneofitsflowers，andpresentittothereader。
Itmayserve，letushope，tosymbolisesomesweetmoralblossom，thatmaybefoundalongthetrack，orrelievethedarkeningcloseofataleofhumanfrailtyandsorrow。
II。
THEMARKET—PLACE。
THEgrass—plotbeforethejail，inPrisonLane，onacertainsummermorning，notlessthantwocenturiesago，wasoccupiedbyaprettylargenumberoftheinhabitantsofBoston；allwiththeireyesintentlyfastenedontheiron—clampedoakendoor。Amongstanyotherpopulation，oratalaterperiodinthehistoryofNewEngland，thegrimrigiditythatpetrifiedthebeardedphysiognomiesofthesegoodpeoplewouldhaveauguredsomeawfulbusinessinhand。Itcouldhavebetokenednothingshortoftheanticipatedexecutionofsomenotedculprit，onwhomthesentenceofalegaltribunalhadbutconfirmedtheverdictofpublicsentiment。But，inthatearlyseverityofthePuritancharacter，aninferenceofthiskindcouldnotsoindubitablybedrawn。Itmightbe，thatasluggishbond—servant，oranundutifulchild，whomhisparentshadgivenovertothecivilauthority，wastobecorrectedatthewhipping—post。Itmightbe，thatanAntinomian，aQuaker，orotherheterodoxreligionist，wastobescourgedoutofthetown，oranidleandvagrantIndian，whomthewhiteman’sfire—waterhadmaderiotousaboutthestreets，wastobedrivenwithstripesintotheshadowoftheforest。Itmightbe，too，thatawitch，likeoldMistressHibbins，thebitter—temperedwidowofthemagistrate，wastodieuponthegallows。Ineithercase，therewasverymuchthesamesolemnityofdemeanouronthepartofthespectators；asbefittedapeopleamongstwhomreligionandlawwerealmostidentical，andinwhosecharacterbothweresothoroughlyinterfused，thatthemildestandtheseverestactsofpublicdisciplinewerealikemadevenerableandawful。Meagre，indeed，andcold，wasthesympathythatatransgressormightlookfor，fromsuchbystanders，atthescaffold。Ontheotherhand，apenaltywhich，inourdays，wouldinferadegreeofmockinginfamyandridicule，mightthenbeinvestedwithalmostassternadignityasthepunishmentofdeathitself。
Itwasacircumstancetobenoted，onthesummermorningwhenourstorybeginsitscourse，thatthewomen，ofwhomtherewereseveralinthecrowd，appearedtotakeapeculiarinterestinwhateverpenalinflictionmightbeexpectedtoensue。Theagehadnotsomuchrefinement，thatanysenseofimproprietyrestrainedthewearersofpetticoatandfarthingalefromsteppingforthintothepublicways，andwedgingtheirnotunsubstantialpersons，ifoccasionwere，intothethrongnearesttothescaffoldatanexecution。Morally，aswellasmaterially，therewasacoarserfibreinthosewivesandmaidensofoldEnglishbirthandbreeding，thanintheirfairdescendants，separatedfromthembyaseriesofsixorsevengenerations；for，throughoutthatchainofancestry，everysuccessivemotherhastransmittedtoherchildafainterbloom，amoredelicateandbrieferbeauty，andaslighterphysicalframe，ifnotacharacteroflessforceandsolidity，thanherown。Thewomenwhowerenowstandingabouttheprison—doorstoodwithinlessthanhalfacenturyoftheperiodwhentheman—likeElizabethhadbeenthenotaltogetherunsuitablerepresentativeofthesex。Theywerehercountry—women；andthebeefandaleoftheirnativeland，withamoraldietnotawhitmorerefined，enteredlargelyintotheircomposition。Thebrightmorningsun，therefore，shoneonbroadshouldersandwell—developedbusts，andonroundandruddycheeks，thathadripenedinthefar—offisland，andhadhardlyyetgrownpalerorthinnerintheatmosphereofNewEngland。Therewas，moreover，aboldnessandrotundityofspeechamongthesematrons，asmostofthemseemedtobe，thatwouldstartleusatthepresentday，whetherinrespecttoitspurportoritsvolumeoftone。
\"Goodwives，\"saidahard—featureddameoffifty，\"I’lltellyeapieceofmymind。Itwouldbegreatlyforthepublicbehoof，ifwewomen，beingofmatureageandchurch—membersingoodrepute，shouldhavethehandlingofsuchmalefactressesasthisHesterPrynne。Whatthinkye，gossips？Ifthehussystoodupforjudgmentbeforeusfive，thatarenowhereinaknottogether，wouldshecomeoffwithsuchasentenceastheworshipfulmagistrateshaveawarded？Marry，I
trownot！\"
\"Peoplesay，\"saidanother，\"thattheReverendMasterDimmesdale，hergodlypastor，takesitverygrievouslytoheartthatsuchascandalshouldhavecomeuponhiscongregation。\"
\"ThemagistratesareGod—fearinggentlemen，butmercifulovermuch—
thatisatruth，\"addedathirdautumnalmatron。\"Attheveryleast，theyshouldhaveputthebrandofahotirononHesterPrynne’sforehead。MadamHesterwouldhavewincedatthat，Iwarrantme。Butshe—thenaughtybaggage—littlewillshecarewhattheyputuponthebodiceofhergown！Why，lookyou，shemaycoveritwithabrooch，orsuchlikeheathenishadornment，andsowalkthestreetsasbraveasever！\"
\"Ah，but，\"interposed，moresoftly，ayoungwife，holdingachildbythehand，\"Lethercoverthemarkasshewill，thepangofitwillbealwaysinherheart。\"
\"Whatdowetalkofmarksandbrands，whetheronthebodiceofhergown，orthefleshofherforehead？\"criedanotherfemale，theugliestaswellasthemostpitilessoftheseself—constitutedjudges。\"Thiswomanhasbroughtshameuponusall，andoughttodie。Istherenotlawforit？Trulythereis，bothintheScriptureandthestatute—book。Thenletthemagistrates，whohavemadeitofnoeffect，thankthemselvesiftheirownwivesanddaughtersgoastray！\"
\"Mercyonus，goodwife，\"exclaimedamaninthecrowd，\"istherenovirtueinwoman，savewhatspringsfromawholesomefearofthegallows？Thatisthehardestwordyet！Hush，now，gossips！forthelockisturningintheprison—door，andherecomesMistressPrynneherself。\"
Thedoorofthejailbeingflungopenfromwithin，thereappeared，inthefirstplace，likeablackshadowemergingintosunshine，thegrimandgrislypresenceofthetown—beadle，withaswordbyhisside，andhisstaffofofficeinhishand。ThispersonageprefiguredandrepresentedinhisaspectthewholedismalseverityofthePuritaniccodeoflaw，whichitwashisbusinesstoadministerinitsfinalandclosestapplicationtotheoffender。Stretchingforththeofficialstaffinhislefthand，helaidhisrightupontheshoulderofayoungwoman，whomhethusdrewforward；until，onthethresholdoftheprison—door，sherepelledhim，byanactionmarkedwithnaturaldignityandforceofcharacter，andsteppedintotheopenair，asifbyherownfreewill。Sheboreinherarmsachild，ababyofsomethreemonthsold，whowinkedandturnedasideitslittlefacefromthetoovividlightofday；becauseitsexistence，heretofore，hadbroughtitacquaintedonlywiththegreytwilightofadungeon，orotherdarksomeapartmentoftheprison。
Whentheyoungwoman—themotherofthischild—stoodfullyrevealedbeforethecrowd，itseemedtobeherfirstimpulsetoclasptheinfantcloselytoherbosom；notsomuchbyanimpulseofmotherlyaffection，asthatshemighttherebyconcealacertaintoken，whichwaswroughtorfastenedintoherdress。Inamoment，however，wiselyjudgingthatonetokenofhershamewouldbutpoorlyservetohideanother，shetookthebabyonherarm，and，withaburningblush，andyetahaughtysmile，andaglancethatwouldnotbeabashed，lookedaroundathertownspeopleandneighbours。Onthebreastofhergown，infineredcloth，surroundedwithanelaborateembroideryandfantasticflourishesofgoldthread，appearedtheletterA。Itwassoartisticallydone，andwithsomuchfertilityandgorgeousluxurianceoffancy，thatithadalltheeffectofalastandfittingdecorationtotheapparelwhichshewore；andwhichwasofasplendourinaccordancewiththetasteoftheage，butgreatlybeyondwhatwasallowedbythesumptuaryregulationsofthecolony。
Theyoungwomanwastall，withafigureofperfecteleganceonalargescale。Shehaddarkandabundanthair，soglossythatitthrewoffthesunshinewithagleam，andafacewhich，besidesbeingbeautifulfromregularityoffeatureandrichnessofcomplexion，hadtheimpressivenessbelongingtoamarkedbrowanddeepblackeyes。Shewasladylike，too，afterthemannerofthefemininegentilityofthosedays；characterisedbyacertainstateanddignity，ratherthanbythedelicate，evanescent，andindescribablegrace，whichisnowrecognisedasitsindication。AndneverhadHesterPrynneappearedmoreladylike，intheantiqueinterpretationoftheterm，thanassheissuedfromtheprison。Thosewhohadbeforeknownher，andhadexpectedtobeholdherdimmedandobscuredbyadisastrouscloud，wereastonished，andevenstartled，toperceivehowherbeautyshoneout，andmadeahaloofthemisfortuneandignominyinwhichshewasenveloped。Itmaybetrue，that，toasensitiveobserver，therewassomethingexquisitelypainfulinit。Herattire，which，indeed，shehadwroughtfortheoccasion，inprison，andhadmodelledmuchafterherownfancy，seemedtoexpresstheattitudeofherspirit，thedesperaterecklessnessofhermood，byitswildandpicturesquepeculiarity。Butthepointwhichdrewalleyes，and，asitwere，transfiguredthewearer—sothatbothmenandwomen，whohadbeenfamiliarlyacquaintedwithHesterPrynne，werenowimpressedasiftheybeheldherforthefirsttime—wasthatSCARLET
LETTER，sofantasticallyembroideredandilluminateduponherbosom。
Ithadtheeffectofaspell，takingheroutoftheordinaryrelationswithhumanity，andenclosingherinaspherebyherself。
\"Shehathgoodskillatherneedle，that’scertain，\"remarkedoneofherfemalespectators；\"butdideverawoman，beforethisbrazenhussy，contrivesuchawayofshowingit！Why，gossips，whatisitbuttolaughinthefacesofourgodlymagistrates，andmakeaprideoutofwhatthey，worthygentlemen，meantforapunishment？\"
\"Itwerewell，\"mutteredthemostiron—visagedoftheolddames，\"ifwestrippedMadamHester’srichgownoffherdaintyshoulders；andasfortheredletter，whichshehathstitchedsocuriously，I’llbestowaragofmineownrheumaticflannel，tomakeafitterone！\"
\"Oh，peace，neighbours，peace！\"whisperedtheiryoungestcompanion；\"donotletherhearyou！Notastitchinthatembroideredletter，butshehasfeltitinherheart。\"
Thegrimbeadlenowmadeagesturewithhisstaff。
\"Makeway，goodpeople，makeway，intheKing’sname！\"criedhe。
\"Openapassage；and，Ipromiseye，MistressPrynneshallbesetwhereman，woman，andchild，mayhaveafairsightofherbraveapparel，fromthistimetillanhourpastmeridian。AblessingontherighteousColonyoftheMassachusetts，whereiniquityisdraggedoutintothesunshine！Comealong，MadamHester，andshowyourscarletletterinthemarket—place！\"
Alanewasforthwithopenedthroughthecrowdofspectators。
Precededbythebeadle，andattendedbyanirregularprocessionofstern—browedmenandunkindly—visagedwomen，HesterPrynnesetforthtowardstheplaceappointedforherpunishment。Acrowdofeagerandcuriousschoolboys，understandinglittleofthematterinhand，exceptthatitgavethemahalf—holiday，ranbeforeherprogress，turningtheirheadscontinuallytostareintoherface，andatthewinkingbabyinherarms，andattheignominiousletteronherbreast。Itwasnogreatdistance，inthosedays，fromtheprison—doortothemarket—place。Measuredbytheprisoner’sexperience，however，itmightbereckonedajourneyofsomelength；for，haughtyasherdemeanourwas，sheperchanceunderwentanagonyfromeveryfootstepofthosethatthrongedtoseeher，asifherhearthadbeenflungintothestreetforthemalltospurnandtrampleupon。Inournature，however，thereisaprovisionalikemarvellousandmerciful，thatthesufferershouldneverknowtheintensityofwhatheenduresbyitspresenttorture，butchieflybythepangthatranklesafterit。Withalmostaserenedeportment，therefore，HesterPrynnepassedthroughthisportionofherordeal，andcametoasortofscaffold，atthewesternextremityofthemarket—place。ItstoodnearlybeneaththeeavesofBoston’searliestchurch，andappearedtobeafixturethere。
Infact，thisscaffoldconstitutedaportionofapenalmachine，whichnow，fortwoorthreegenerationspast，hasbeenmerelyhistoricalandtraditionaryamongus，butwasheld，intheoldtime，tobeaseffectualanagent，inthepromotionofgoodcitizenship，aseverwastheguillotineamongtheterroristsofFrance。Itwas，inshort，theplatformofthepillory；andaboveitrosetheframeworkofthatinstrumentofdiscipline，sofashionedastoconfinethehumanheadinitstightgrasp，andthusholdituptothepublicgaze。Theveryidealofignominywasembodiedandmademanifestinthiscontrivanceofwoodandiron。Therecanbenooutrage，methinks，againstourcommonnature—whateverbethedelinquenciesoftheindividual—nooutragemoreflagrantthantoforbidtheculprittohidehisfaceforshame；asitwastheessenceofthispunishmenttodo。InHesterPrynne’sinstance，however，asnotunfrequentlyinothercases，hersentencebore，thatsheshouldstandacertaintimeupontheplatform，butwithoutundergoingthatgripeabouttheneckandconfinementofthehead，thepronenesstowhichwasthemostdevilishcharacteristicofthisuglyengine。Knowingwellherpart，sheascendedaflightofwoodensteps，andwasthusdisplayedtothesurroundingmultitude，atabouttheheightofaman’sshouldersabovethestreet。
HadtherebeenapapistamongthecrowdofPuritans，hemighthaveseeninthisbeautifulwoman，sopicturesqueinherattireandmien，andwiththeinfantatherbosom，anobjecttoremindhimoftheimageofDivineMaternity，whichsomanyillustriouspaintershaveviedwithoneanothertorepresent；somethingwhichshouldremindhim，indeed，butonlybycontrast，ofthatsacredimageofsinlessmotherhood，whoseinfantwastoredeemtheworld。Here，therewasthetaintofdeepestsininthemostsacredqualityofhumanlife，workingsucheffect，thattheworldwasonlythedarkerforthiswoman’sbeauty，andthemorelostfortheinfantthatshehadborne。
Thescenewasnotwithoutamixtureofawe，suchasmustalwaysinvestthespectacleofguiltandshameinafellow—creature，beforesocietyshallhavegrowncorruptenoughtosmile，insteadofshuddering，atit。ThewitnessesofHesterPrynne’sdisgracehadnotyetpassedbeyondtheirsimplicity。Theyweresternenoughtolookuponherdeath，hadthatbeenthesentence，withoutamurmuratitsseverity，buthadnoneoftheheartlessnessofanothersocialstate，whichwouldfindonlyathemeforjestinanexhibitionlikethepresent。Eveniftherehadbeenadispositiontoturnthematterintoridicule，itmusthavebeenrepressedandoverpoweredbythesolemnpresenceofmennolessdignifiedthantheGovernor，andseveralofhiscounsellors，ajudge，ageneral，andtheministersofthetown；allofwhomsatorstoodinabalconyofthemeetinghouse，lookingdownupontheplatform。Whensuchpersonagescouldconstituteapartofthespectacle，withoutriskingthemajestyorreverenceofrankandoffice，itwassafelytobeinferredthattheinflictionofalegalsentencewouldhaveanearnestandeffectualmeaning。Accordingly，thecrowdwassombreandgrave。Theunhappyculpritsustainedherselfasbestawomanmight，undertheheavyweightofathousandunrelentingeyes，allfasteneduponherandconcentratedatherbosom。Itwasalmostintolerabletobeborne。Ofanimpulsiveandpassionatenature，shehadfortifiedherselftoencounterthestingsandvenomousstabsofpubliccontumely，wreakingitselfineveryvarietyofinsult；buttherewasaqualitysomuchmoreterribleinthesolemnmoodofthepopularmind，thatshelongedrathertobeholdallthoserigidcountenancescontortedwithscornfulmerriment，andherselftheobject。Hadaroaroflaughterburstfromthemultitude—eachman，eachwoman，eachlittleshrill—voicedchild，contributingtheirindividualparts—HesterPrynnemighthaverepaidthemallwithabitteranddisdainfulsmile。But，undertheleadeninflictionwhichitwasherdoomtoendure，shefelt，atmoments，asifshemustneedsshriekoutwiththefullpowerofherlungs，andcastherselffromthescaffolddownupontheground，orelsegomadatonce。
Yettherewereintervalswhenthewholescene，inwhichshewasthemostconspicuousobject，seemedtovanishfromhereyes，oratleast，glimmeredindistinctlybeforethem，likeamassofimperfectlyshapedandspectralimages。Hermind，andespeciallyhermemory。waspreternaturallyactive，andkeptbringingupotherscenesthanthisroughlyhewnstreetofalittletown，ontheedgeoftheWesternwilderness；otherfacesthanwereloweringuponherfrombeneaththebrimsofthosesteeple—crownedhats。Reminiscences，themosttriflingandimmaterial，passagesofinfancyandschool—days，sports，childishquarrels，andthelittledomestictraitsofhermaidenyears，cameswarmingbackuponher，intermingledwithrecollectionsofwhateverwasgravestinhersubsequentlife；onepicturepreciselyasvividasanother；asifallwereofsimilarimportance，orallalikeaplay。Possibly，itwasaninstinctivedeviceofherspirit，torelieveitself，bytheexhibitionofthesephantasmagoricforms，fromthecruelweightandhardnessofthereality。
Bethatasitmight，thescaffoldofthepillorywasapointofviewthatrevealedtoHesterPrynnetheentiretrackalongwhichshehadbeentreading，sinceherhappyinfancy。Standingonthatmiserableeminence，shesawhernativevillage，inoldEngland，andherpaternalhome；adecayedhouseofgreystone，withapoverty—strickenaspect，butretainingahalf—obliteratedshieldofarmsovertheportal，intokenofantiquegentility。Shesawherfather’sface，withitsbaldbrow，andreverendwhitebeard，thatflowedovertheold—fashionedElizabethanruff；hermother’s，too，withthelookofheedfulandanxiouslovewhichitalwaysworeinherremembrance，andwhich，evensinceherdeath，hadsooftenlaidtheimpedimentofagentleremonstranceinherdaughter’spathway。Shesawherownface，glowingwithgirlishbeauty，andilluminatingalltheinterioroftheduskymirrorinwhichshehadbeenwonttogazeatit。Thereshebeheldanothercountenance，ofamanwellstrickeninyears，apale，thin，scholar—likevisage，witheyesdimandblearedbythelamplightthathadservedthemtoporeovermanyponderousbooks。
Yetthosesameblearedopticshadastrange，penetratingpower，whenitwastheirowner’spurposetoreadthehumansoul。Thisfigureofthestudyandthecloister，asHesterPrynne’swomanlyfancyfailednottorecall，wasslightlydeformed，withtheleftshoulderatriflehigherthantheright。Nextrosebeforeher，inmemory’spicture—gallery，theintricateandnarrowthoroughfares，thetallgreyhouses，thehugecathedrals，andthepublicedifices，ancientindateandquaintinarchitecture，ofaContinentalcity；whereanewlifehadawaitedher，stillinconnectionwiththemisshapenscholar；anewlife，butfeedingitselfontime—wornmaterials，likeatuftofgreenmossonacrumblingwall。Lastly，inlieuoftheseshiftingscenes，camebacktherudemarket—placeofthePuritansettlement，withallthetownspeopleassembledandlevellingtheirsternregardsatHesterPrynne—yes，atherself—whostoodonthescaffoldofthepillory，aninfantonherarm，andtheletterA，inscarlet，fantasticallyembroideredwithgoldthread，uponherbosom！
Coulditbetrue？Sheclutchedthechildsofiercelytoherbreast，thatitsentforthacry；sheturnedhereyesdownwardatthescarletletter，andeventoucheditwithherfinger，toassureherselfthattheinfantandtheshamewerereal。Yes！—thesewereherrealities—allelsehadvanished！
III。
THERECOGNITION。
FROMthisintenseconsciousnessofbeingtheobjectofsevereanduniversalobservation，thewearerofthescarletletterwasatlengthrelieved，bydiscerning，ontheoutskirtsofthecrowd，afigurewhichirresistiblytookpossessionofherthoughts。AnIndian，inhisnativegarb，wasstandingthere；buttheredmenwerenotsoinfrequentvisitorsoftheEnglishsettlements，thatoneofthemwouldhaveattractedanynoticefromHesterPrynne，atsuchatime；muchlesswouldhehaveexcludedallotherobjectsandideasfromhermind。BytheIndian’sside，andevidentlysustainingacompanionshipwithhim，stoodawhiteman，cladinastrangedisarrayofcivilisedandsavagecostume。
Hewassmallinstature，withafurrowedvisage，which，asyet，couldhardlybetermedaged。Therewasaremarkableintelligenceinhisfeatures，asofapersonwhohadsocultivatedhismentalpartthatitcouldnotfailtomouldthephysicaltoitself，andbecomemanifestbyunmistakabletokens。Although，byaseeminglycarelessarrangementofhisheterogeneousgarb，hehadendeavouredtoconcealorabatethepeculiarity，itwassufficientlyevidenttoHesterPrynne，thatoneofthisman’sshouldersrosehigherthantheother。
Again，atthefirstinstantofperceivingthatthinvisage，andtheslightdeformityofthefigure，shepressedherinfanttoherbosomwithsoconvulsiveaforcethatthepoorbabeutteredanothercryofpain。Butthemotherdidnotseemtohearit。
Athisarrivalinthemarket—place，andsometimebeforeshesawhim，thestrangerhadbenthiseyesonHesterPrynne。Itwascarelessly，atfirst，likeamanchieflyaccustomedtolookinward，andtowhomexternalmattersareoflittlevalueandimport，unlesstheybearrelationtosomethingwithinhismind。Verysoon，however，hislookbecamekeenandpenetrative。Awrithinghorrortwisteditselfacrosshisfeatures，likeasnakeglidingswiftlyoverthem，andmakingonelittlepause，withallitswreathedintervolutions，inopensight。Hisfacedarkenedwithsomepowerfulemotion，which，nevertheless，hesoinstantaneouslycontrolledbyaneffortofhiswill，that，saveatasinglemoment，itsexpressionmighthavepassedforcalmness。Afterabriefspace，theconvulsiongrewalmostimperceptible，andfinallysubsidedintothedepthsofhisnature。
WhenhefoundtheeyesofHesterPrynnefastenedonhisown，andsawthatsheappearedtorecognisehim，heslowlyandcalmlyraisedhisfinger，madeagesturewithitintheair，andlaiditonhislips。
Then，touchingtheshoulderofatownsmanwhostoodnexttohim，headdressedhim，inaformalandcourteousmanner。
\"Iprayyou，goodsir，\"saidhe，\"whoisthiswoman？—andwhereforeissheheresetuptopublicshame？\"
\"Youmustneedsbeastrangerinthisregion，friend，\"answeredthetownsman，lookingcuriouslyatthequestionerandhissavagecompanion，\"elseyouwouldsurelyhaveheardofMistressHesterPrynne，andherevildoings。Shehathraisedagreatscandal，I
promiseyou，ingodlyMasterDimmesdale’schurch。\"