第31部分(第1/7 页)

ned…　or　making　a　prophetic　lamentation　aboutsomething　that　was　yet　to　happen…　within　the　verge　of　the　dismalforest。　So　Pearl；　who　had　enough　of　shadow　in　her　own　little　life；chose　to　break　off　all　acquaintance　with　this　repining　brook。　Sheset　herself；　therefore；　to　gathering　violets　and　wood…anemones；　andsome　scarlet　columbines　that　she　found　growing　in　the　crevices　of　ahigh　rock。 When　her　elf…child　had　departed；　Hester　Prynne　made　a　step　or　twotowards　the　track　that　led　through　the　forest；　but　still　remainedunder　the　deep　shadow　of　the　trees。　She　beheld　the　ministeradvancing　along　the　path；　entirely　alone；　and　leaning　on　a　staff　whichhe　had　cut　by　the　wayside。　He　looked　haggard　and　feeble；　andbetrayed　a　nerveless　despondency　in　his　air；　which　had　never　soremarkably　characterised　him　in　his　walks　about　the　settlement；　nor　inany　other　situation　where　he　deemed　himself　liable　to　notice。　Hereit　was　woefully　visible；　in　this　intense　seclusion　of　the　forest；which　of　itself　would　have　been　a　heavy　trial　to　the　spirits。　Therewas　a　listlessness　in　his　gait；　as　if　he　saw　no　reason　for　takingone　step　farther；　nor　felt　any　desire　to　do　so；　but　would　have　beenglad；　could　he　be　glad　of　anything；　to　fling　himself　down　at　theroot　of　the　nearest　tree；　and　lie　there　passive；　for　evermore。　Theleaves　might　bestrew　him；　and　the　soil　gradually　accumulate　and　form　alittle　hillock　over　his　frame；　no　matter　whether　there　were　life　in　itor　no。　Death　was　too　definite　an　object　to　be　wished　for；　or　avoided。 To　Hester's　eye；　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale　exhibited　no　symptom　ofpositive　and　vivacious　suffering；　except　that；　as　little　Pearl　hadremarked；　he　kept　his　hand　over　his　heart。 XVII。 THE　PASTOR　AND　HIS　PARISHIONER。 SLOWLY　as　the　minister　walke