entirelyoutofthesphereofsympathyorhumancontact。Shenowskippedirreverentlyfromonegravetoanother；until，comingtothebroad，flat，armorialtombstoneofadepartedworthy—perhapsofIsaacJohnsonhimself—shebegantodanceuponit。Inreplytohermother’scommandandentreatythatshewouldbehavemoredecorously，littlePearlpausedtogatherthepricklyburrsfromatallburdockwhichgrewbesidethetomb。Takingahandfulofthese，shearrangedthemalongthelinesofthescarletletterthatdecoratedthematernalbosom，towhichtheburrs，astheirnaturewas，tenaciouslyadhered。
Hesterdidnotpluckthemoff。
RogerChillingworthhadbythistimeapproachedthewindow，andsmiledgrimlydown。
\"Thereisnolaw，norreverenceforauthority，noregardforhumanordinancesoropinions，rightorwrong，mixedupwiththatchild’scomposition，\"remarkedher，asmuchtohimselfastohiscompanion。\"I
sawher，theotherday，bespattertheGovernorhimselfwithwater，atthecattle—troughinSpringLane。What，inHeaven’sname，isshe？
Istheimpaltogetherevil？Hathsheaffections？Hathsheanydiscoverableprincipleofbeing？\"
\"None—savethefreedomofabrokenlaw，\"answeredMr。Dimmesdale，inaquietway，asifhehadbeendiscussingthepointwithinhimself。
\"WhethercapableofgoodIknownot。\"
Thechildprobablyoverheardtheirvoices；for，lookinguptothewindow，withabright，butnaughtysmileofmirthandintelligence，shethrewoneofthepricklyburrsattheReverendMr。Dimmesdale。Thesensitiveclergymanshrunk，withnervousdread，fromthelightmissile。Detectinghisemotion，Pearlclappedherlittlehands，inthemostextravagantecstasy。HesterPrynne，likewise，hadinvoluntarilylookedup；andallthesefourpersons，oldandyoung，regardedoneanotherinsilence，tillthechildlaughedaloud，andshouted，\"Comeaway，mother！Comeaway，oryonderoldBlackManwillcatchyou！Hehathgotholdoftheministeralready。Comeaway，mother，orhewillcatchyou！ButhecannotcatchlittlePearl！\"
Soshedrewhermotheraway，skipping，dancing，andfriskingfantastically，amongthehillocksofthedeadpeople，likeacreaturethathadnothingincommonwithabygoneandburiedgeneration，norownedherselfakintoit。Itwasasifshehadbeenmadeafresh，outofnewelements，andmustperforcebepermittedtoliveherownlife，andbealawuntoherself，withouthereccentricitiesbeingreckonedtoherforacrime。
\"Theregoesawoman，\"resumedRogerChillingworth，afterapause，\"who，beherdemeritswhattheymay，hathnoneofthatmysteryofhiddensinfulnesswhichyoudeemsogrievoustobeborne。IsHesterPrynnethelessmiserable，thinkyou，forthatscarletletteronherbreast？\"
\"Idoverilybelieveit，\"answeredtheclergyman。\"Nevertheless，I
cannotanswerforher。Therewasalookofpaininherface，whichI
wouldgladlyhavebeensparedthesightof。Butstill，methinks，itmustneedsbebetterforthesufferertobefreetoshowhispain，asthispoorwomanHesteris，thantocoveritallupinhisheart。\"
Therewasanotherpause；andthephysicianbegananewtoexamineandarrangetheplantswhichhehadgathered。
\"Youinquiredofme，alittletimeagone，\"saidhe，atlength，\"myjudgmentastouchingyourhealth。\"
\"Idid，\"answeredtheclergyman，\"andwouldgladlylearnit。Speakfrankly，Iprayyou，beitforlifeordeath。\"
\"Freely，then，andplainly，\"saidthephysician，stillbusywithhisplants，butkeepingawaryeyeonMr。Dimmesdale，\"thedisorderisastrangeone；notsomuchinitself，norasoutwardlymanifested—insofar，atleast，asthesymptomshavebeenlaidopentomyobservation。Lookingdallyatyou，mygoodsir，andwatchingthetokensofyouraspect，nowformonthsgoneby，Ishoulddeemyouamansoresick，itmaybe，yetnotsosickbutthataninstructedandwatchfulphysicianmightwellhopetocureyou。But—Iknownotwhattosay—thediseaseiswhatIseemtoknow，yetknowitnot。\"
\"Youspeakinriddles，learnedsir，\"saidthepaleminister，glancingasideoutofthewindow。
\"Then，tospeakmoreplainly，\"continuedthephysician，\"andIcravepardon，sir—shoulditseemtorequirepardon—forthisneedfulplainnessofmyspeech。Letmeask，asyourfriend—asonehavingcharge，underProvidence，ofyourlifeandphysicalwell—being—hathalltheoperationofthisdisorderbeenfairlylaidopenandrecountedtome？\"
\"Howcanyouquestionit？\"askedtheminister。\"Surely，itwerechild’splay，tocallinaphysician，andthenhidethesore！\"
\"Youwouldtellme，then，thatIknowall？\"saidRogerChillingworthdeliberately，andfixinganeye，brightwithintenseandconcentratedintelligence，ontheminister’sface。\"Beitso！But，again！Hetowhomonlytheoutwardandphysicalevilislaidopen，knoweth，oftentimes，buthalftheevilwhichbeiscalledupontocure。Abodilydisease，whichwelookuponaswholeandentirewithinitself，may，afterall，bebutasymptomofsomeailmentinthespiritualpart。Yourpardon，onceagain，goodsir，ifmyspeechgivetheshadowofoffence。You，sir，ofallmenwhomIhaveknown，arehewhosebodyistheclosestconjoined，andimbued，andidentified，sotospeak，withthespiritwhereofitistheinstrument。\"
\"ThenIneedasknofurther，\"saidtheclergyman，somewhathastilyrisingfromhischair。\"Youdealnot，Itakeit，inmedicineforthesoul！\"
\"Thus，asickness，\"continuedRogerChillingworthgoingon，inanunalteredtone，withoutheedingtheinterruption，butstandingupandconfrontingtheemaciatedandwhite—cheekedminister，withhislow，dark，andmisshapenfigure—\"asickness，asoreplace，ifwemaysocallit，inyourspirit，hathimmediatelyitsappropriatemanifestationinyourbodilyframe。Wouldyou，therefore，thatyourphysicianhealthebodilyevil？Howmaythisbe，unlessyoufirstlayopentohimthewoundortroubleinyoursoul？\"
\"No！—nottothee！—nottoanearthlyphysician！\"criedMr。
Dimmesdalepassionately，andturninghiseyes，fullandbright，andwithakindoffierceness，onoldRogerChillingworth。\"Nottothee！
But，ifitbethesoul’sdisease，thendoIcommitmyselftotheonePhysicianofthesoul！He，ifitstandwithHisgoodpleasure，cancure；orHecankill！LetHimdowithmeas，inHisjusticeandwisdom，Heshallseegood。Butwhoartthou，thatmeddlestinthismatter？—thatdaresthrusthimselfbetweenthesuffererandhisGod？\"
Withafranticgesture，herushedoutoftheroom。
\"Itisaswelltohavemadethisstep，\"saidRogerChillingworthtohimself，lookingaftertheminister，withagravesmile。\"Thereisnothinglost。Weshallbefriendsagainanon。Butsee，now，howpassiontakesholduponthisman，andhurriethhimoutofhimself！
Aswithonepassion，sowithanother！Hehathdoneawildthingerenow，thispiousMasterDimmesdale，inthehotpassionofhisheart！\"
Itprovednotdifficulttore—establishtheintimacyofthetwocompanions，onthesamefootingandinthesamedegreeasheretofore。Theyoungclergyman，afterafewhoursofprivacy，wassensiblethatthedisorderofhisnerveshadhurriedhimintoanunseemlyoutbreakoftemper，whichtherehadbeennothinginthephysician’swordstoexcuseorpalliate。Hemarvelled，indeed，attheviolencewithwhichhehadthrustbackthekindoldman，whenmerelyprofferingtheadvicewhichitwashisdutytobestow，andwhichtheministerhimselfhadexpresslysought。Withtheseremorsefulfeelings，helostnotimeinmakingtheamplestapologies，andbesoughthisfriendstilltocontinuethecare，which，ifnotsuccessfulinrestoringhimtohealth，had，inallprobability，beenthemeansofprolonginghisfeebleexistencetothathour。RogerChillingworthreadilyassented，andwentonwithhismedicalsupervisionoftheminister；doinghisbestforhim，inallgoodfaith，butalwaysquittingthepatient’sapartment，atthecloseofaprofessionalinterview，withamysteriousandpuzzledsmileuponhislips。ThisexpressionwasinvisibleinMr。Dimmesdale’spresence，butgrewstronglyevidentasthephysiciancrossedthethreshold。
\"Ararecase！\"hemuttered。\"Imustneedslookdeeperintoit。A
strangesympathybetwixtsoulandbody！Wereitonlyfortheart’ssake，Imustsearchthismattertothebottom！\"
Itcametopass，notlongafterthesceneaboverecorded，thattheReverendMr。Dimmesdale，atnoon—day，andentirelyunawares，fellintoadeep，deepslumber，sittinginhischair，withalargeblack—lettervolumeopenbeforehimonthetable。Itmusthavebeenaworkofvastabilityinthesomniferousschoolofliterature。Theprofounddepthoftheminister’sreposewasthemoreremarkable，inasmuchashewasoneofthosepersonswhosesleep，ordinarily，isaslight，asfitful，andaseasilyscaredaway，asasmallbirdhoppingonatwig。Tosuchanunwontedremoteness，however，hadhisspiritnowwithdrawnintoitself，thathestirrednotinhischair，whenoldRogerChillingworth，withoutanyextraordinaryprecaution，cameintotheroom。Thephysicianadvanceddirectlyinfrontofhispatient，laidhishanduponhisbosom，andthrustasidethevestment，that，hitherto，hadalwayscovereditevenfromtheprofessionaleye。
Then，indeed，Mr。Dimmesdaleshuddered，andslightlystirred。
Afterabriefpause，thephysicianturnedaway。
But，withwhatawildlookofwonder，joy，andhorror！Withwhataghastlyrapture，asitwere，toomightytobeexpressedonlybytheeyeandfeatures，andthereforeburstingforththroughthewholeuglinessofhisfigure，andmakingitselfevenriotouslymanifestbytheextravagantgestureswithwhichhethrewuphisarmstowardstheceiling，andstampedhisfootuponthefloor！HadamanseenoldRogerChillingworth，atthatmomentofhisecstasy，hewouldhavehadnoneedtoaskhowSatancomportshimself，whenaprecioushumansoulislosttoheaven，andwonintohiskingdom。
Butwhatdistinguishedthephysician’secstasyfromSatan’swasthetraitofwonderinit！
XI。
THEINTERIOROFAHEART。
AFTERtheincidentlastdescribed，theintercoursebetweentheclergymanandthephysician，thoughexternallythesame，wasreallyofanothercharacterthanithadpreviouslybeen。TheintellectofRogerChillingworthhadnowasufficientlyplainpathbeforeit。Itwasnot，indeed，preciselythatwhichhehadlaidoutforhimselftoread。Calm，gentle，passionless，asheappeared，therewasyet，wefear，aquietdepthofmalice，hithertolatent，butactivenow，inthisunfortunateoldman，whichledhimtoimagineamoreintimaterevengethananymortalhadeverwreakeduponanenemy。Tomakehimselftheonetrustedfriend，towhomshouldbeconfidedallthefear，theremorse，theagony，theineffectualrepentance，thebackwardrushofsinfulthoughts，expelledinvain！Allthatguiltysorrow，hiddenfromtheworld，whosegreatheartwouldhavepitiedandforgiven，toberevealedtohim，thePitiless，tohim，theUnforgiving！Allthatdarktreasuretobelavishedontheveryman，towhomnothingelsecouldsoadequatelypaythedebtofvengeance。
Theclergyman’sshyandsensitivereservehadbalkedthisscheme。
RogerChillingworth，however，wasinclinedtobehardly，ifatall，lesssatisfiedwiththeaspectofaffairs，whichProvidence—usingtheavengerandhisvictimforitsownpurposes，and，perchance，pardoning，whereitseemedmosttopunish—hadsubstitutedforhisblackdevices。Arevelation，hecouldalmostsay，hadbeengrantedtohim。Itmatteredlittle，forhisobject，whethercelestial，orfromwhatotherregion。Byitsaid，inallthesubsequentrelationsbetwixthimandMr。Dimmesdale，notmerelytheexternalpresence，buttheveryinmostsoul，ofthelatterseemedtobebroughtoutbeforehiseyes，sothathecouldseeandcomprehenditseverymovement。Hebecame，thenceforth，notaspectatoronly，butachiefactor，inthepoorminister’sinteriorworld。Hecouldplayuponhimashechose。Wouldhearousehimwithathrobofagony？Thevictimwasforeverontherack；itneededonlytoknowthespringthatcontrolledtheengine—
andthephysicianknewitwell！Wouldbestartlehimwithsuddenfear？
Asatthewavingofamagician’swand，uproseagrislyphantom—uproseathousandphantoms—inmanyshapes，ofdeath，ormoreawfulshame，allflockingroundabouttieclergyman，andpointingwiththeirfingersathisbreast！
Allthiswasaccomplishedwithasubtletysoperfect，thattheminister，thoughhehadconstantlyadimperceptionofsomeevilinfluencewatchingoverhim，couldnevergainaknowledgeofitsactualnature。True，helookeddoubtfully，fearfully—even，attimes，withhorrorandthebitternessofhatred—atthedeformedfigureoftheoldphysician。Hisgestures，hisgait，hisgrizzledbeard，hisslightestandmostindifferentacts，theveryfashionofhisgarments，wereodiousintheclergyman’ssight；atokenimplicitlytobereliedon，ofadeeperantipathyinthebreastofthelatterthanhewaswillingtoacknowledgetohimself。For，asitwasimpossibletoassignareasonforsuchdistrustandabhorrence，soMr。
Dimmesdale，consciousthatthepoisonofonemorbidspotwasinfectinghisheart’sentiresubstance，attributedallhispresentimentstonoothercause。HetookhimselftotaskforhisbadsympathiesinreferencetoRogerChillingworth，disregardedthelessonthatheshouldhavedrawnfromthem，anddidhisbesttorootthemout。Unabletoaccomplishthis，henevertheless，asamatterofprinciple，continuedhishabitsofsocialfamiliaritywiththeoldman，andthusgavehimconstantopportunitiesforperfectingthepurposetowhich—poor，forlorncreaturethathewas，andmorewretchedthanhisvictim—theavengerhaddevotedhimself。
Whilethussufferingunderbodilydisease，andgnawedandtorturedbysomeblacktroubleofthesoul，andgivenovertothemachinationsofhisdeadliestenemy，theReverendMr。Dimmesdalehadachievedabrilliantpopularityinhissacredoffice。Hewonit，indeed，ingreatpart，byhissorrows。Hisintellectualgifts，hismoralperceptions，hispowerofexperiencingandcommunicatingemotion，werekeptinastateofpreternaturalactivitybytheprickandanguishofhisdailylife。Hisfame，thoughstillonitsupwardslope，alreadyovershadowedthesobererreputationsofhisfellow—clergymen，eminentasseveralofthemwere。Therewerescholarsamongthem，whohadspentmoreyearsinacquiringabstruselore，connectedwiththedivineprofession，thanMr。Dimmesdalehadlived；
andwhomightwell，therefore，bemoreprofoundlyversedinsuchsolidandvaluableattainmentsthantheiryouthfulbrother。Thereweremen，too，ofasturdiertextureofmindthanhis，andendowedwithafargreatershareofshrewd，hard，iron，orgraniteunderstanding；
which，dulymingledwithafairproportionofdoctrinalingredient，constitutesahighlyrespectable，efficacious，andunamiablevarietyoftheclericalspecies。Therewereothers，again，truesaintlyfathers，whosefacultieshadbeenelaboratedbywearytoilamongtheirbooks，andbypatientthought，andetherealised，moreover，byspiritualcommunicationswiththebetterworld，intowhichtheirpurityoflifehadalmostintroducedtheseholypersonages，withtheirgarmentsofmortalitystillclingingtothem。AllthattheylackedwasthegiftthatdescendeduponthechosendisciplesatPentecost，intonguesofflame；symbolising，itwouldseem，notthepowerofspeechinforeignandunknownlanguages，butthatofaddressingthewholehumanbrotherhoodintheheart’snativelanguage。Thesefathers，otherwisesoapostolic，lackedHeaven’slastandrarestattestationoftheiroffice，theTongueofFlame。Theywouldhavevainlysought—
hadtheyeverdreamedofseeking—toexpressthehighesttruthsthroughthehumblestmediumoffamiliarwordsandimages。Theirvoicescamedown，afarandindistinctly，fromtheupperheightswheretheyhabituallydwelt。
Notimprobably，itwastothislatterclassofmenthatMr。
Dimmesdale，bymanyofhistraitsofcharacter，naturallybelonged。Tothehighmountain—peaksoffaithandsanctityhewouldhaveclimbed，hadnotthetendencybeenthwartedbytheburden，whateveritmightbe，ofcrimeoranguish，beneathwhichitwashisdoomtototter。Itkepthimdown，onalevelwiththelowest；him，themanofetherealattributes，whosevoicetheangelsmightelsehavelistenedtoandanswered！Butthisveryburdenitwas，thatgavehimsympathiessointimatewiththesinfulbrotherhoodofmankind；sothathisheartvibratedinunisonwiththeirs，andreceivedtheirpainintoitself，andsentitsownthrobofpainthroughathousandotherhearts，ingushesofsad，persuasiveeloquence。Oftenestpersuasive，butsometimesterrible！Thepeopleknewnotthepowerthatmovedthemthus。Theydeemedtheyoungclergymanamiracleofholiness。TheyfanciedhimthemouthpieceofHeaven’smessagesofwisdom，andrebuke，andlove。Intheireyes，theverygroundonwhichhetrodwassanctified。Thevirginsofhischurchgrewpalearoundhim，victimsofapassionsoimbuedwithreligioussentimentthattheyimaginedittobeallreligion，andbroughtitopenly，intheirwhitebosoms，astheirmostacceptablesacrificebeforethealtar。Theagedmembersofhisflock，beholdingMr。Dimmesdale’sframesofeeble，whiletheywerethemselvessoruggedintheirinfirmity，believedthathewouldgoheavenwardbeforethem，andenjoineditupontheirchildren，thattheiroldbonesshouldbeburiedclosetotheiryoungpastor’sholygrave。And，allthistime，perchance，whenpoorMr。Dimmesdalewasthinkingofhisgrave，hequestionedwithhimselfwhetherthegrasswouldevergrowonit，becauseanaccursedthingmusttherebeburied！
Itisinconceivable，theagonywithwhichthispublicvenerationtorturedhim！Itwashisgenuineimpulsetoadorethetruth，andtoreckonallthingsshadow—like，andutterlydevoidofweightorvalue，thathadnotitsdivineessenceasthelifewithintheirlife。Then，whatwashe？—asubstance？—orthedimmestofallshadows？
Helongedtospeakout，fromhisownpulpit，atthefullheightofhisvoice，andtellthepeoplewhathewas。\"I，whomyoubeholdintheseblackgarmentsofthepriesthood—I，whoascendthesacreddesk，andturnmypalefaceheavenward，takinguponmyselftoholdcommunion，inyourbehalf，withtheMostHighOmniscience—I，inwhosedailylifeyoudiscernthesanctityofEnoch—I，whosefootsteps，asyousuppose，leaveagleamalongmyearthlytrack，wherebythepilgrimsthatshallcomeaftermemaybeguidedtotheregionsoftheblest—I，whohavelaidthehandofbaptismuponyourchildren—I，whohavebreathedthepartingprayeroveryourdyingfriends，towhomtheAmensoundedfaintlyfromaworldwhichtheyhadquitted—I，yourpastor，whomyousoreverenceandtrust，amutterlyapollutionandalie！\"
Morethanonce，Mr。Dimmesdalehadgoneintothepulpit，withapurposenevertocomedownitssteps，untilheshouldhavespokenwordsliketheabove。Morethanonce，hehadclearedhisthroat，anddrawninthelong，deep，andtremulousbreath，which，whensentforthagain，wouldcomeburdenedwiththeblacksecretofhissoul。
Morethanonce—nay，morethanahundredtimes—hehadactuallyspoken！Spoken！Buthow？Hehadtoldhishearersthathewasaltogethervile，avilercompanionofthevilest，theworstofsinners，anabomination，athingofunimaginableiniquity；andthattheonlywonderwas，thattheydidnotseehiswretchedbodyshrivelledupbeforetheireyes，bytheburningwrathoftheAlmighty！
Couldtherebeplainerspeechthanthis？Wouldnotthepeoplestartupintheirseats，byasimultaneousimpulse，andtearhimdownoutofthepulpitwhichhedefiled？Notso，indeed！Theyhearditall，anddidbutreverencehimthemore。Theylittleguessedwhatdeadlypurportlurkedinthoseself—condemningwords。\"Thegodlyyouth！\"saidtheyamongthemselves。\"Thesaintonearth！Alas，ifhediscernsuchsinfulnessinhisownwhitesoul，whathorridspectaclewouldhebeholdinthineormine！\"Theministerwellknew—subtle，butremorselesshypocritethathewas！—thelightinwhichhisvagueconfessionwouldbeviewed。Hehadstriventoputacheatuponhimselfbymakingtheavowalofaguiltyconscience，buthadgainedonlyoneothersin，andaself—acknowledgedshame，withoutthemomentaryreliefofbeingself—deceived。Hehadspokentheverytruth，andtransformeditintotheveriestfalsehood。Andyet，bytheconstitutionofhisnature，helovedthetruth，andloathedthelie，asfewmeneverdid。Therefore，aboveallthingselse，heloathedhismiserableself！
Hisinwardtroubledrovehimtopracticesmoreinaccordancewiththeold，corruptedfaithofRome，thanwiththebetterlightoftheChurchinwhichhehadbeenbornandbred。InMr。Dimmesdale’ssecretcloset，underlockandkey，therewasabloodyscourge。
Oftentimes，thisProtestantandPuritandivinehadplieditonhisownshoulders；laughingbitterlyathimselfthewhile，andsmitingsomuchthemorepitilesslybecauseofthatbitterlaugh。Itwashiscustom，too，asithasbeenthatofmanyotherpiousPuritans，tofast—not，however，likethem，inordertopurifythebodyandrenderitthefittermediumofcelestialillumination，butrigorously，anduntilhiskneestrembledbeneathhim，asanactofpenance。Hekeptvigils，likewise，nightafternight，sometimesinutterdarkness；sometimeswithaglimmeringlamp；andsometimes，viewinghisownfaceinalooking—glass，bythemostpowerfullightwhichhecouldthrowuponit。Hethustypifiedtheconstantintrospectionwherewithhetortured，butcouldnotpurify，himself。Intheselengthenedvigils，hisbrainoftenreeled，andvisionsseemedtoflitbeforehim；perhapsseendoubtfully，andbyafaintlightoftheirown，intheremotedimnessofthechamber，ormorevividly，andclosebesidehim，withinthelooking—glass。Nowitwasaherdofdiabolicshapes，thatgrinnedandmockedatthepaleminister，andbeckonedhimawaywiththem；
nowagroupofshiningangels，whoflewupwardheavily，assorrow—laden，butgrewmoreetherealastheyrose。Nowcamethedeadfriendsofhisyouth，andhiswhite—beardedfather，withasaint—likefrown，andhismother，turningherfaceawayasshepassedby。Ghostofamother—thinnestfantasyofamother—methinksshemightyethavethrownapityingglancetowardsherson！Andnow，throughthechamberwhichthesespectralthoughtshadmadesoghastly，glidedHesterPrynne，leadingalonglittlePearl，inherscarletgarb，andpointingherforefinger，firstatthescarletletteronherbosom，andthenattheclergyman’sownbreast。
Noneofthesevisionseverquitedeludedhim。Atanymoment，byaneffortofhiswill，hecoulddiscernsubstancesthroughtheirmistylackofsubstance，andconvincehimselfthattheywerenotsolidintheirnature，likeyondertableofcarvedoak，orthatbig，square，leathern—boundandbrazen—claspedvolumeofdivinity。But，forallthat，theywere，inonesense，thetruestandmostsubstantialthingswhichthepoorministernowdealtwith。Itistheunspeakablemiseryofalifesofalseashis，thatitstealsthepithandsubstanceoutofwhateverrealitiestherearearoundus，andwhichweremeantbyHeaventobethespirit’sjoyandnutriment。Totheuntrueman，thewholeuniverseisfalse—itisimpalpable—itshrinkstonothingwithinhisgrasp。Andhehimself，insofarasheshowshimselfinafalselight，becomesashadow，or，indeed，ceasestoexist。TheonlytruththatcontinuedtogiveMr。Dimmesdalearealexistenceonthisearth，wastheanguishinhisinmostsoul，andtheundissembledexpressionofitinhisaspect。Hadheoncefoundpowertosmile，andwearafaceofgaiety，therewouldhavebeennosuchman！
Ononeofthoseuglynights，whichwehavefaintlyhintedat，butforbornetopictureforth，theministerstartedfromhischair。A
newthoughthadstruckhim。Theremightbeamoment’speaceinit。
Attiringhimselfwithasmuchcareasifithadbeenforpublicworship，andpreciselyinthesamemanner，hestolesoftlydownthestaircase，undidthedoor，andissuedforth。
XII。
THEMINISTER’SVIGIL。
WALKINGintheshadowofadream，asitwere，andperhapsactuallyundertheinfluenceofaspeciesofsomnambulism，MrDimmesdalereachedthespot，where，nowsolongsince，HesterPrynnehadlivedthroughherfirsthoursofpublicignominy。Thesameplatformorscaffold，blackandweather—stainedwiththestormorsunshineofsevenlongyears，andfoot—worn，too，withthetreadofmanyculpritswhohadsinceascendedit，remainedstandingbeneaththebalconyofthemeeting—house。Theministerwentupthesteps。
ItwasanobscurenightofearlyMay。Anunvariedpallofcloudmuffledthewholeexpanseofskyfromzenithtohorizon。Ifthesamemultitudewhichhadstoodaseye—witnesseswhileHesterPrynnesustainedherpunishmentcouldnowhavebeensummonedforth，theywouldhavediscernednofaceabovetheplatform，norhardlytheoutlineofahumanshape，inthedarkgreyofthemidnight。Butthetownwasallasleep。Therewasnoperilofdiscovery。Theministermightstandthere，ifitsopleasedhim，untilmorningshouldreddenintheeast，withoutotherriskthanthatthedankandchillnight—airwouldcreepintohisframe，andstiffenhisjointswithrheumatism，andcloghisthroatwithcatarrhandcough；therebydefraudingtheexpectantaudienceofto—morrow’sprayerandsermon。Noeyecouldseehim，savethatever—wakefulonewhichhadseenhiminhiscloset，wieldingthebloodyscourge。Why，then，hadhecomehither？
Wasitbutthemockeryofpenitence？Amockery，indeed，butinwhichhissoultrifledwithitself！Amockeryatwhichangelsblushedandwept，whilefiendsrejoiced，withjeeringlaughter！HehadbeendrivenhitherbytheimpulseofthatRemorsewhichdoggedhimeverywhere，andwhoseownsisterandcloselylinkedcompanionwasthatCowardicewhichinvariablydrewhimback，withhertremulousgripe，justwhentheotherimpulsehadhurriedhimtothevergeofadisclosure。Poor，miserableman！whatrighthadinfirmitylikehistoburdenitselfwithcrime？Crimeisfortheiron—nerved，whohavetheirchoiceeithertoendureit，or，ifitpresstoohard，toexerttheirfierceandsavagestrengthforagoodpurpose，andflingitoffatonce！Thisfeebleandmostsensitiveofspiritscoulddoneither，yetcontinuallydidonethingoranother，whichintertwined，inthesameinextricableknot，theagonyofheaven—defyingguiltandvainrepentance。
