第17部分(第1/7 页)

ly　mixed　up　with　the　deliberations　of　legislatorsand　acts　of　state。　The　period　was　hardly；　if　at　all；　earlier　than　thatof　our　story；　when　a　dispute　concerning　the　right　of　property　in　apig；　not　only　caused　a　fierce　and　bitter　contest　in　the　legislativebody　of　the　colony；　but　resulted　in　an　important　modification　of　theframework　itself　of　the　legislature。 Full　of　concern；　therefore…　but　so　conscious　of　her　own　right　thatit　seemed　scarcely　an　unequal　match　between　the　public；　on　the　oneside；　and　a　lonely　woman；　backed　by　the　sympathies　of　nature；　on　theother…　Hester　Prynne　set　forth　from　her　solitary　cottage。　LittlePearl；　of　course；　was　her　panion。　She　was　now　of　an　age　to　runlightly　along　by　her　mother's　side；　and；　constantly　in　motion；　frommorn　till　sunset；　could　have　acplished　a　much　longer　journey　thanthat　before　her。　Often；　nevertheless；　more　from　caprice　thannecessity；　she　demanded　to　be　taken　up　in　arms；　but　was　soon　asimperious　to　be　set　down　again；　and　frisked　onward　before　Hester　onthe　grassy　pathway；　with　many　a　harmless　trip　and　tumble。　We　havespoken　of　Pearl's　rich　and　luxuriant　beauty；　a　beauty　that　shonewith　deep　and　vivid　tints；　a　bright　plexion；　eyes　possessingintensity　both　of　depth　and　glow；　and　hair　already　of　a　deep；　glossybrown；　and　which；　in　after　years；　would　be　nearly　akin　to　black。　Therewas　fire　in　her　and　throughout　her；　she　seemed　the　unpremeditatedoffshoot　of　a　passionate　moment。　Her　mother；　in　contriving　the　child'sgarb；　had　allowed　the　gorgeous　tendencies　of　her　imagination　theirfull　play；　arraying　her　in　a　crimson　velvet　tunic；　of　a　peculiarcut；　abundantly　embroidered　with　fantasies　and　flourishes　of　goldthread。　So　much　strength　of　colouring；　which　must　have　given　a　wan　andpallid　aspect　to　cheeks　of　a　fainter　bloom；　was　admirably　adapt