Dimmesdalehadevidentlybeguntofail。Bythosebestacquaintedwithhishabits，thepalenessoftheyoungminister’scheekwasaccountedforbyhistooearnestdevotiontostudy，hisscrupulousfulfilmentofparochialduty，and，morethanall，bythefastsandvigilsofwhichhemadeafrequentpractice，inordertokeepthegrossnessofthisearthlystatefromcloggingandobscuringhisspirituallamp。Somedeclared，that，ifMr。Dimmesdalewerereallygoingtodie，itwascauseenough，thattheworldwasnotworthytobeanylongertroddenbyhisfeet。Hehimself，ontheotherhand，withcharacteristichumility，avowedhisbelief，that，ifProvidenceshouldseefittoremovehim，itwouldbebecauseofhisownunworthinesstoperformitshumblestmissionhereonearth。Withallthisdifferenceofopinionastothecauseofhisdecline，therecouldbenoquestionofthefact。Hisformgrewemaciated；hisvoice，thoughstillrichandsweet，hadacertainmelancholyprophecyofdecayinit；hewasoftenobserved，onanyslightalarmorothersuddenaccident，toputhishandoverhisheart，withfirstaflushandthenapaleness，indicativeofpain。
Suchwastheyoungclergyman’scondition，andsoimminenttheprospectthathisdawninglightwouldbeextinguished，alluntimely，whenRogerChillingworthmadehisadventtothetown。Hisfirstentryonthescene，fewpeoplecouldtellwhence，droppingdown，itwere，outofthesky，orstartingfromthenetherearth，hadanaspectofmystery，whichwaseasilyheightenedtothemiraculous。Hewasnowknowntobeamanofskill；itwasobservedthathegatheredherbs，andtheblossomsofwild—flowers，andduguproots，andpluckedofftwigsfromtheforest—treeslikeoneacquaintedwithhiddenvirtuesinwhatwasvaluelesstocommoneyes。HewasheardtospeakofSirKenelmDigby，andotherfamousmen—whosescientificattainmentswereesteemedhardlylessthansupernatural—ashavingbeenhiscorrespondentsorassociates。Why，withsuchrankinthelearnedworld，hadhecomehither？Whatcouldhe，whosespherewasingreatcities，beseekinginthewilderness？Inanswertothisquery，arumourgainedground—and，howeverabsurd，wasentertainedbysomeverysensiblepeople—thatHeavenhadwroughtanabsolutemiracle，bytransportinganeminentDoctorofPhysic，fromaGermanuniversity，bodilythroughtheair，andsettinghimdownatthedoorofMr。
Dimmesdale’sstudy！Individualsofwiserfaith，indeed，whoknewthatHeavenpromotesitspurposeswithoutaimingatthestage—effectofwhatiscalledmiraculousinterposition，wereinclinedtoseeaprovidentialhandinRogerChillingworth’ssoopportunearrival。
Thisideawascountenancedbythestronginterestwhichthephysicianevermanifestedintheyoungclergyman；heattachedhimselftohimasaparishioner，andsoughttowinafriendlyregardandconfidencefromhisnaturallyreservedsensibility。Heexpressedgreatalarmathispastor’sstateofhealth，butwasanxioustoattemptthecure，and，ifearlyundertaken，seemednotdespondentofafavourableresult。Theelders，thedeacons，themotherlydames，andtheyoungandfairmaidens，ofMr。Dimmesdale’sflock，werealikeimportunatethatheshouldmaketrialofthephysician’sfranklyofferedskill。Mr。Dimmesdalegentlyrepelledtheirentreaties。
\"Ineednomedicine，\"saidhe。
Buthowcouldtheyoungministersayso，when，witheverysuccessiveSabbath，hischeekwaspalerandthinner，andhisvoicemoretremulousthanbefore—whenithadnowbecomeaconstanthabit，ratherthanacasualgesture，topresshishandoverhisheart？Washewearyofhislabours？Didhewishtodie？ThesequestionsweresolemnlypropoundedtoMr。DimmesdalebytheelderministersofBostonandthedeaconsofhischurch，who，tousetheirownphrase，\"dealtwithhim\"onthesinofrejectingtheaidwhichProvidencesomanifestlyheldout。Helistenedinsilence，andfinallypromisedtoconferwiththephysician。
\"WereitGod’swill，\"saidtheReverendMr。Dimmesdale，when，infulfilmentofthispledge，herequestedoldRogerChillingworth’sprofessionaladvice，\"Icouldbewellcontent，thatmylaboursandmysorrows，andmysinsandmypains，shouldshortlyendwithme，andwhatisearthlyofthembeburiedinmygrave，andthespiritualgowithmetomyeternalstate，ratherthanthatyoushouldputyourskilltotheproofinmybehalf。\"
\"Ah，\"repliedRogerChillingworth，withthatquietnesswhich，whetherimposedornatural，markedallhisdeportment，\"itisthusthatayoungclergymanisapttospeak。Youthfulmen，nothavingtakenadeeproot，giveuptheirholdoflifesoeasily！Andsaintlymen，whowalkwithGodonearth，wouldfainbeaway，towalkwithHimonthegoldenpavementsoftheNewJerusalem。\"
\"Nay，\"rejoinedtheyoungminister，puttinghishandtohisheart，withaflushofpainflittingoverhisbrow，\"wereIworthiertowalkthere，Icouldbebettercontenttotoilhere。\"
\"Goodmeneverinterpretthemselvestoomeanly，\"saidthephysician。
Inthismanner，themysteriousoldRogerChillingworthbecamethemedicaladviseroftheReverendMr。Dimmesdale。Asnotonlythediseaseinterestedthephysician，buthewasstronglymovedtolookintothecharacterandqualitiesofthepatient，thesetwomen，sodifferentinage，camegraduallytospendmuchtimetogether。Forthesakeoftheminister’shealth，andtoenabletheleechtogatherplantswithhealingbalminthem，theytooklongwalksonthesea—shore，orintheforest；minglingvarioustalkwiththeplashandmurmurofthewaves，andthesolemnwind—anthemamongthetree—tops。Often，likewise，onewastheguestoftheother，inhisplaceofstudyandretirement。Therewasafascinationfortheministerinthecompanyofthemanofscience，inwhomherecognisedanintellectualcultivationofnomoderatedepthorscope；togetherwitharangeandfreedomofideas，thathewouldhavevainlylookedforamongthemembersofhisownprofession。Intruth，hewasstartled，ifnotshocked，tofindthisattributeinthephysician。Mr。
Dimmesdalewasatruepriest，atruereligionist，withthereverentialsentimentlargelydeveloped，andanorderofmindthatimpelleditselfpowerfullyalongthetrackofacreed，andworeitspassagecontinuallydeeperwiththelapseoftime。Innostateofsocietywouldhehavebeenwhatiscalledamanofliberalviews；itwouldalwaysbeessentialtohispeacetofeelthepressureofafaithabouthim，supporting，whileitconfinedhimwithinitsironframework。
Nottheless，however，thoughwithatremulousenjoyment，didhefeeltheoccasionalreliefoflookingattheuniversethroughthemediumofanotherkindofintellectthanthosewithwhichhehabituallyheldconverse。Itwasasifawindowwerethrownopen，admittingafreeratmosphereintothecloseandstifledstudy，wherehislifewaswastingitselfaway，amidlamplight，orobstructedday—beams，andthemustyfragrance，beitsensualormoral，thatexhalesfrombooks。Buttheairwastoofreshandchilltobelongbreathedwithcomfort。Sotheminister，andthephysicianwithhim，withdrewagainwithinthelimitsofwhattheirchurchdefinedasorthodox。
ThusRogerChillingworthscrutinisedhispatientcarefully，bothashesawhiminhisordinarylife，keepinganaccustomedpathwayintherangeofthoughtsfamiliartohim，andasheappearedwhenthrownamidstothermoralscenery，thenoveltyofwhichmightcalloutsomethingnewtothesurfaceofhischaracter。Hedeemeditessential，itwouldseem，toknowtheman，beforeattemptingtodohimgood。
Whereverthereisaheartandanintellect，thediseasesofthephysicalframearetingedwiththepeculiaritiesofthese。InArthurDimmesdale，thoughtandimaginationweresoactive，andsensibilitysointense，thatthebodilyinfirmitywouldbelikelytohaveitsgroundworkthere。SoRogerChillingworth—themanofskill，thekindandfriendlyphysician—strovetogodeepintohispatient’sbosom，delvingamonghisprinciples，pryingintohisrecollections，andprobingeverythingwithacautioustouch，likeatreasure—seekerinadarkcavern。Fewsecretscanescapeaninvestigator，whohasopportunityandlicensetoundertakesuchaquest，andskilltofollowitup。Amanburdenedwithasecretshouldespeciallyavoidtheintimacyofhisphysician。Ifthelatterpossessnativesagacity，andanamelesssomethingmore—letuscallitintuition；ifheshownointrusiveegotism，nordisagreeablyprominentcharacteristicsofhisown；ifhehavethepower，whichmustbebornwithhim，tobringhismindintosuchaffinitywithhispatient’s，thatthislastshallunawareshavespokenwhatheimagineshimselfonlytohavethought；ifsuchrevelationsbereceivedwithouttumult，andacknowledgednotsooftenbyanutteredsympathyasbysilence，aninarticulatebreath，andhereandthereaword，toindicatethatallisunderstood；iftothesequalificationsofaconfidantbejoinedtheadvantagesaffordedbyhisrecognisedcharacterasaphysician—then，atsomeinevitablemoment，willthesoulofthesuffererbedissolved，andflowforthinadark，buttransparentstream，bringingallitsmysteriesintothedaylight。
RogerChillingworthpossessedall，ormost，oftheattributesaboveenumerated。Nevertheless，timewenton；akindofintimacy，aswehavesaid，grewupbetweenthesetwocultivatedminds，whichhadaswideafieldasthewholesphereofhumanthoughtandstudy，tomeetupon；theydiscussedeverytopicofethicsandreligion，ofpublicaffairs，andprivatecharacter；theytalkedmuch，onbothsides，ofmattersthatseemedpersonaltothemselves；andyetnosecret，suchasthephysicianfanciedmustexistthere，everstoleoutoftheminister’sconsciousnessintohiscompanion’sear。Thelatterhadhissuspicions，indeed，thateventhenatureofMr。Dimmesdale’sbodilydiseasehadneverfairlybeenrevealedtohim。Itwasastrangereserve！
Afteratime，atahintfromRogerChillingworth，thefriendsofMr。
Dimmesdaleeffectedanarrangementbywhichthetwowerelodgedinthesamehouse；sothateveryebbandflowoftheminister’slife—tidemightpassundertheeyeofhisanxiousandattachedphysician。
Therewasmuchjoythroughoutthetown，whenthisgreatlydesirableobjectwasattained。Itwasheldtobethebestpossiblemeasurefortheyoungclergyman’swelfare：unless，indeed，asoftenurgedbysuchasfeltauthorisedtodoso，hehadselectedsomeoneofthemanybloomingdamsels，spirituallydevotedtohim，tobecomehisdevotedwife。Thislatterstep，however，therewasnopresentprospectthatArthurDimmesdalewouldbeprevailedupontotake；herejectedallsuggestionsofthekind，asifpriestlycelibacywereoneofhisarticlesofchurch—discipline。Doomedbyhisownchoice，therefore，asMr。Dimmesdalesoevidentlywas，toeathisunsavourymorselalwaysatanother’sboard，andendurethelifelongchillwhichmustbehislotwhoseekstowarmhimselfonlyatanother’sfireside，ittrulyseemedthatthissagacious，experienced，benevolentoldphysician，withhisconcordofpaternalandreverentiallovefortheyoungpastor，wastheveryman，ofallmankind，tobeconstantlywithinreachofhisvoice。
Thenewabodeofthetwofriendswaswithapiouswidow，ofgoodsocialrank，whodweltinahousecoveringprettynearlythesiteonwhichthevenerablestructureofKing’sChapelhassincebeenbuilt。
Ithadthegraveyard，originallyIsaacJohnson’shome—field，ononeside，andsowaswelladaptedtocallupseriousreflections，suitedtotheirrespectiveemployments，inbothministerandmanofphysic。
ThemotherlycareofthegoodwidowassignedtoMr。Dimmesdaleafrontapartment，withasunnyexposure，andheavywindow—curtains，tocreateanoon—tideshadow，whendesirable。Thewallswerehungroundwithtapestry，saidtobefromtheGobelinlooms，and，atallevents，representingtheScripturalstoryofDavidandBathsheba，andNathantheProphet，incoloursstillunfaded，butwhichmadethefairwomanofthescenealmostasgrimlypicturesqueasthewoe—denouncingseer。Here，thepaleclergymanpileduphislibrary，richwithparchment—boundfoliosoftheFathers，andtheloreofRabbis，andmonkisherudition，ofwhichtheProtestantdivines，evenwhiletheyvilifiedanddecriedthatclassofwriters，wereyetconstrainedoftentoavailthemselves。Ontheothersideofthehouse，oldRogerChillingwortharrangedhisstudyandlaboratory；notsuchasamodernmanofsciencewouldreckoneventolerablycomplete，butprovidedwithadistillingapparatus，andthemeansofcompoundingdrugsandchemicals，whichthepractisedalchemistknewwellhowtoturntopurpose。Withsuchcommodiousnessofsituation，thesetwolearnedpersonssatthemselvesdown，eachinhisowndomain，yetfamiliarlypassingfromoneapartmenttotheother，andbestowingamutualandnotincuriousinspectionintooneanother’sbusiness。
AndtheReverendArthurDimmesdale’sbestdiscerningfriends，aswehaveintimated，veryreasonablyimaginedthatthehandofProvidencehaddoneallthis，forthepurpose—besoughtinsomanypublic，anddomestic，andsecretprayers—ofrestoringtheyoungministertohealth。But—itmustnowbesaid—anotherportionofthecommunityhadlatterlybeguntotakeitsownviewoftherelationbetwixtMr。Dimmesdaleandthemysteriousoldphysician。Whenanuninstructedmultitudeattemptstoseewithitseyes，itisexceedinglyapttobedeceived。When，however，itformsitsjudgment，asitusuallydoes，ontheintuitionsofitsgreatandwarmheart，theconclusionsthusattainedareoftensoprofoundandsounerring，astopossessthecharacteroftruthssupernaturallyrevealed。Thepeople，inthecaseofwhichwespeak，couldjustifyitsprejudiceagainstRogerChillingworthbynofactorargumentworthyofseriousrefutation。Therewasanagedhandicraftsman，itistrue，whohadbeenacitizenofLondonattheperiodofSirThomasOverbury’smurder，nowsomethirtyyearsagone；hetestifiedtohavingseenthephysician，undersomeothername，whichthenarratorofthestoryhadnowforgotten，incompanywithDoctorForman，thefamousoldconjurer，whowasimplicatedintheaffairofOverbury。Twoorthreeindividualshinted，thatthemanofskill，duringhisIndiancaptivity，hadenlargedhismedicalattainmentsbyjoiningintheincantationsofthesavagepriests；whowereuniversallyacknowledgedtobepowerfulenchanters，oftenperformingseeminglymiraculouscuresbytheirskillintheblackart。Alargenumber—
andmanyofthesewerepersonsofsuchsobersenseandpracticalobservationthattheiropinionswouldhavebeenvaluableinothermatters—affirmedthatRogerChillingworth’saspecthadundergonearemarkablechangewhilehehaddweltintown，andespeciallysincehisabodewithMr。Dimmesdale。Atfirst，hisexpressionhadbeencalm，meditative，scholar—like。Now，therewassomethinguglyandevilinhisface，whichtheyhadnotpreviouslynoticed，andwhichgrewstillthemoreobvioustosight，theoftenertheylookeduponhim。
Accordingtothevulgaridea，thefireinhislaboratoryhadbeenbroughtfromthelowerregions，andwasfedwithinfernalfuel；andso，asmightbeexpected，hisvisagewasgettingsootywiththesmoke。
Tosumupthematter，itgrewtobeawidelydiffusedopinion，thattheReverendArthurDimmesdale，likemanyotherpersonagesofespecialsanctity，inallagesoftheChristianworld，washauntedeitherbySatanhimself，orSatan’semissary，intheguiseofoldRogerChillingworth。ThisdiabolicalagenthadtheDivinepermission，foraseason，toburrowintotheclergyman’sintimacy，andplotagainsthissoul。Nosensibleman，itwasconfessed，coulddoubtonwhichsidethevictorywouldturn。Thepeoplelooked，withanunshakenhope，toseetheministercomeforthoutoftheconflict，transfiguredwiththeglorywhichhewouldunquestionablywin。
Meanwhile，nevertheless，itwassadtothinkoftheperchancemortalagonythroughwhichhemuststruggletowardshistriumph。
Alas！tojudgefromthegloomandterrorinthedepthsofthepoorminister’seyes，thebattlewasasoreone，andthevictoryanythingbutsecure。
X。
THELEECHANDHISPATIENT。
OLDRogerChillingworth，throughoutlife，hadbeencalmintemperament，kindly，thoughnotofwarmaffections，butever，andinallhisrelationswiththeworld，apureanduprightman。Hehadbegunaninvestigation，asheimagined，withthesevereandequalintegrityofajudge，desirousonlyoftruth，evenasifthequestioninvolvednomorethantheair—drawnlinesandfiguresofageometricalproblem，insteadofhumanpassions，andwrongsinflictedonhimself。But，asheproceeded，aterriblefascination，akindoffierce，thoughstillcalm，necessityseizedtheoldmanwithinitsgripe，andneversethimfreeagain，untilhehaddoneallitsbidding。Henowdugintothepoorclergyman’sheart，likeaminersearchingforgold；or，rather，likeasextondelvingintoagrave，possiblyinquestofajewelthathadbeenburiedonthedeadman’sbosom，butlikelytofindnothingsavemortalityandcorruption。
Alasforhisownsoul，ifthesewerewhathesought！
Sometimes，alightglimmeredoutofthephysician’seyes，burningblueandominous，likethereflectionofafurnace，or，letussay，likeoneofthosegleamsofghastlyfirethatdartedfromBunyan’sawfuldoorwayinthehill—side，andquiveredonthepilgrim’sface。
Thesoilwherethisdarkminerwasworkinghadperchanceshownindicationsthatencouragedhim。
\"Thisman，\"saidhe，atonesuchmoment，tohimself，\"pureastheydeemhim—allspiritualasheseems—hathinheritedastronganimalnaturefromhisfatherorhismother。Letusdigalittlefartherinthedirectionofthisvein！\"
Then，afterlongsearchintotheminister’sdiminterior，andturningovermanypreciousmaterials，intheshapeofhighaspirationsforthewelfareofhisrace，warmloveofsouls，puresentiments，naturalpiety，strengthenedbythoughtandstudy，andilluminatedbyrevelation—allofwhichinvaluablegoldwasperhapsnobetterthanrubbishtotheseeker—hewouldturnback，discouraged，andbeginhisquesttowardsanotherpoint。Hegropedalongasstealthily，withascautiousatread，andaswaryanoutlook，asathiefenteringachamberwhereamanliesonlyhalfasleep—or，itmaybe，broadawake—
withpurposetostealtheverytreasurewhichthismanguardsastheappleofhiseye。Inspiteofhispremeditatedcarefulness，thefloorwouldnowandthencreak；hisgarmentswouldrustle；theshadowofhispresence，inaforbiddenproximity，wouldbethrownacrosshisvictim。Inotherwords，Mr。Dimmesdale，whosesensibilityofnerveoftenproducedtheeffectofspiritualintuition，wouldbecomevaguelyawarethatsomethinginimicaltohispeacehadthrustitselfintorelationwithhim。ButoldRogerChillingworth，too，hadperceptionsthatwerealmostintuitive；andwhentheministerthrewhisstartledeyestowardshim，therethephysiciansat；hiskind，watchful，sympathising，butneverintrusivefriend。
YetMr。Dimmesdalewouldperhapshaveseenthisindividual’scharactermoreperfectly，ifacertainmorbidness，towhichsickheartsareliable，hadnotrenderedhimsuspiciousofallmankind。
Trustingnomanashisfriend，hecouldnotrecognisehisenemywhenthelatteractuallyappeared。Hethereforestillkeptupafamiliarintercoursewithhim，dailyreceivingtheoldphysicianinhisstudy；orvisitingthelaboratory，and，forrecreation’ssake，watchingtheprocessesbywhichweedswereconvertedintodrugsofpotency。
Oneday，leaninghisforeheadonhishand，andhiselbowonthesilloftheopenwindow，thatlookedtowardsthegraveyard，hetalkedwithRogerChillingworth，whiletheoldmanwasexaminingabundleofunsightlyplants。
\"Where，\"askedhe，withalookaskanceatthem—foritwastheclergyman’speculiaritythatheseldom，nowadays，lookedstraight—forthatanyobject，whetherhumanorinanimate—\"where，mykinddoctor，didyougatherthoseherbs，withsuchadark，flabbyleaf？\"
\"Eveninthegraveyardhereathand，\"answeredthephysician，continuinghisemployment。\"Theyarenewtome。Ifoundthemgrowingonagrave，whichborenotombstone，norothermemorialofthedeadman，savetheseuglyweeds，thathavetakenuponthemselvestokeephiminremembrance。Theygrewoutofhisheart，andtypify，itmaybe，somehideoussecretthatwasburiedwithhim，andwhichhehaddonebettertoconfessduringhislifetime。\"
\"Perchance，\"saidMr。Dimmesdale，\"heearnestlydesiredit，butcouldnot。\"
\"Andwherefore？\"rejoinedthephysician。\"Whereforenot；sinceallthepowersofnaturecallsoearnestlyfortheconfessionofsin，thattheseblackweedshavesprungupoutofaburiedheart，tomakemanifestanunspokencrime？\"
\"That，goodsir，isbutafantasyofyours，\"repliedtheminister。
\"Therecanbe，ifIforebodearight，nopower，shortoftheDivinemercy，todisclose，whetherbyutteredwords，orbytypeoremblem，thesecretsthatmaybeburiedwithahumanheart。Theheart，makingitselfguiltyofsuchsecrets，mustperforceholdthemuntilthedaywhenallhiddenthingsshallberevealed。NorhaveIsoreadorinterpretedHolyWrit，astounderstandthatthedisclosureofhumanthoughtsanddeeds，thentobemade，isintendedasapartoftheretribution。That，surely，wereashallowviewofit。No；theserevelations，unlessIgreatlyerr，aremeantmerelytopromotetheintellectualsatisfactionofallintelligentbeings，whowillstandwaiting，onthatday，toseethedarkproblemofthislifemadeplain。
Aknowledgeofmen’sheartswillbeneedfultothecompletestsolutionofthatproblem。AndIconceive，moreover，thattheheartsholdingsuchmiserablesecretsasyouspeakofwillyieldthemup，atthatlastday，notwithreluctance，butwithajoyunutterable。\"
\"Thenwhynotrevealthemhere？\"askedRogerChillingworth，glancingquietlyasideattheminister。\"Whyshouldnottheguiltyonessooneravailthemselvesofthisunutterablesolace？\"
\"Theymostlydo，\"saidtheclergyman，gripinghardathisbreast，asifafflictedwithanimportunatethrobofpain。\"Many，manyapoorsoulhathgivenitsconfidencetome，notonlyonthedeathbed，butwhilestronginlife，andfairinreputation。Andever，aftersuchanoutpouring，oh，whatareliefhaveIwitnessedinthosesinfulbrethren！evenasinonewhoatlastdrawsfreeair，afterlongstiflingwithhisownpollutedbreath。Howcanitbeotherwise？Whyshouldawretchedman，guilty，wewillsay，ofmurder，prefertokeepthedeadcorpseburiedinhisownheart，ratherthanflingitforthatonce，andlettheuniversetakecareofit？\"
\"Yetsomemenburytheirsecretsthus，\"observedthecalmphysician。
\"True；therearesuchmen，\"answeredMr。Dimmesdale。\"But，nottosuggestmoreobviousreasons，itmaybethattheyarekeptsilentbytheveryconstitutionoftheirnature。Or—canwenotsupposeit？—
guiltyastheymaybe，retaining，nevertheless，azealforGod’sgloryandman’swelfare，theyshrinkfromdisplayingthemselvesblackandfilthyintheviewofmen；because，thenceforward，nogoodcanbeachievedbythem；noevilofthepastberedeemedbybetterservice。
So，totheirownunutterabletorment，theygoaboutamongtheirfellow—creatures，lookingpureasnew—fallensnow；whiletheirheartsareallspeckledandspottedwithiniquityofwhichtheycannotridthemselves。\"
\"Thesemendeceivethemselves，\"saidRogerChillingworth，withsomewhatmoreemphasisthanusual，andmakingaslightgesturewithhisforefinger。\"Theyfeartotakeuptheshamethatrightfullybelongstothem。Theirloveforman，theirzealforGod’sservice—
theseholyimpulsesmayormaynotcoexistintheirheartswiththeevilinmatestowhichtheirguilthasunbarredthedoor，andwhichmustneedspropagateahellishbreedwithinthem。But，iftheyseektoglorifyGod，letthemnotliftheavenwardtheiruncleanhands！Iftheywouldservetheirfellow—men，letthemdoitbymakingmanifestthepowerandrealityofconscience，inconstrainingthemtopenitentialself—abasement！Wouldstthouhavemetobelieve，Owiseandpiousfriend，thatafalseshowcanbebetter—canbemoreforGod’sglory，orman’swelfare—thanGod’sowntruth？Trustme，suchmendeceivethemselves！\"
\"Itmaybeso，\"saidtheyoungclergyman，indifferently，aswaivingadiscussionthatheconsideredirrelevantorunseasonable。Hehadareadyfaculty，indeed，ofescapingfromanytopicthatagitatedhistoosensitiveandnervoustemperament。\"But，now，Iwouldaskofmywell—skilledphysician，whether，ingoodsooth，hedeemsmetohaveprofitedbyhiskindlycareofthisweakframeofmine？\"
BeforeRogerChillingworthcouldanswer，theyheardtheclear，wildlaughterofayoungchild’svoice，proceedingfromtheadjacentburial—ground。Lookinginstinctivelyfromtheopenwindow—foritwassummer—time—theministerbeheldHesterPrynneandlittlePearlpassingalongthefootpaththattraversedtheenclosure。Pearllookedasbeautifulastheday，butwasinoneofthosemoodsofperversemerrimentwhich，whenevertheyoccurred，seemedtoremoveher