第16部分(第1/7 页)

goutlandish；　unearthly；　or　at　variance　with　ordinary　fashions；　in　themother　and　child；　and　therefore　scorned　them　in　their　hearts；　andnot　unfrequently　reviled　them　with　their　tongues。　Pearl　felt　thesentiment；　and　requited　it　with　the　bitterest　hatred　that　can　besupposed　to　rankle　in　a　childish　bosom。　These　outbreaks　of　a　fiercetemper　had　a　kind　of　value；　and　even　fort；　for　her　mother；because　there　was　at　least　an　intelligible　earnestness　in　the　mood；instead　of　the　fitful　caprice　that　so　often　thwarted　her　in　thechild's　manifestations。　It　appalled　her；　nevertheless；　to　discern　hereagain；　a　shadowy　reflection　of　the　evil　that　had　existed　in　herself。All　this　enmity　and　passion　had　Pearl　inherited；　by　inalienable　right；out　of　Hester's　heart。　Mother　and　daughter　stood　together　in　thesame　circle　of　seclusion　from　human　society；　and　in　the　nature　ofthe　child　seemed　to　be　perpetuated　those　unquiet　elements　that　haddistracted　Hester　Prynne　before　Pearl's　birth；　but　had　since　begunto　be　soothed　away　by　the　softening　influences　of　maternity。 At　home；　within　and　around　her　mother's　cottage；　Pearl　wanted　nota　wide　and　various　circle　of　acquaintance。　The　spell　of　life　wentforth　from　her　ever　creative　spirit；　and　municated　itself　to　athousand　objects；　as　a　torch　kindles　a　flame　wherever　it　may　beapplied。　The　unlikeliest　materials…　a　stick；　a　bunch　of　rags；　aflower…　were　the　puppets　of　Pearl's　witchcraft；　and；　withoutundergoing　any　outward　change；　became　spiritually　adapted　towhatever　drama　occupied　the　stage　of　her　inner　world。　Her　onebaby…voice　served　a　multitude　of　imaginary　personages；　old　andyoung；　to　talk　withal。　The　pine…trees；　aged；　black　and　solemn；　andflinging　groans　and　other　melancholy　utterances　on　the　breeze；needed　little　transformation　to　figure　as　Puritan　elders；　t