THE SCARLETLETTER

The woman who wearsthe scarletleiter on her bosomis a woman without friends, a woman who has sinned' Fingerspoint at her, respectablepeople turn their faces awayfrom her, the priestsspeak hard words abouther' Shamefollows in her footsteps,night and day.

Becausethis is New Englandin the 1600s.The Puritans havecrossed the seato the shoresof America,building their new towns' bringing their religion and their customswith them from the old country. And in the early yearsof Boston,in the stateof Massachusetts,the church is strong- and unforgiving.Anyone who breaksthe laws of the church,and of God, must be punished.

But Hester Prynne,whose husbandis not her baby's father,did not sin alone.ITho is the fatherof her child? 'Why doeshe not speakout?'uflhy should Hester wear the scarletletter of shame,and not her lover?Is he not guilty too? : -tt'

OXFORD BOOKNYORMSLIBRARY Classics

The Scarlet Letter Stage4 (1400headwords)

SeriesEditor: Jennifer Bassett Founder Editor: Tricia Hedge Activities Editors: Jennifer Bassettand Christine Lindop NATHANIEL HA'ITTHORNE

The ScarletLetter

Retold by John Escott

lllustrated by Thomas Sperling

-/

OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS OXFORD UNIVERSITYPRESS CONTENTS Grcat clarendon Street.Oxford ox2 6DP Oxford University Press is a department of the University of oxford It furthers the University's objective ofexcellence in research,scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in STORY INTRODUCTION Oxford NewYork Auckland CapeTom DilesSalaam HongKong Karachi I(ualalumpur Madrid Melboume Mexico City Nairobi Salem,my hometown . . . 1

NewDelhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto 1 With ofnces in 1 Hester Prynne'sshame -) Argentina Austia Brazil Chile CzechRepublic France Greece z Roger Chillingworth's secret 12 cuatemala Hugary Italy Japan Poland Poftugal Singapore Turkey Ukraine Vietnam southKorea Switzerland Thailand A fatherlesschild 17 oxFoRD and oxFoRD ENGLTSHare registeredtrade marks of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries 4 A man sent by the devil 25 This simplified edition o oxford University Press2oo8 Database right Oxford University Press (maker) 5 A night on the scaffold 32 First published in oxford Bookwoms 2oo2 6 Hestermeets the enemy 39 24681097537 No uauthorized photocopying 7 A walk in the forest 45 All rights reseryed No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or trusmitted, in my form or by any means, 8 Hope for the future 51 without the prior pemission in Miting of Oxford University Press, q or as expresslypemitted by law, or under terms agreedwith the apPropriate Escape 59 reprographics rights organization Enquiries conceming reproductron outside the scopeofthe aboveshould be sent to the ELTRights Departmetrt, 10 Hester Prynne'ssadness 69 oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must inpose this sme condition on any acquirer GLOSSARY 73 Any websitesrefened to in this publication are in the pubtc ddmain and their addressesare provided by oxford University Press for infomation only ACTIVITIES: Before Reading 76 oxford University Press disclaims any responsibility for the content

rsBN 978 o 19 479183o AcTrvrrrEs: While Reading 77 this Bookworms edition of A complete recording of After Reading 80 TheScarletLetter is availableon audio CD ISBN 978 o 19 4791533 ACTrvrrrES: Printed in Hong Kong ABOUTTHE AUTHOR 84

ABOUT THE BOOK\TORMS LIBRARY 85

Word count (main text): 15,955words

For more infomation on the oxford Bookworms Library, visit \ffi oup com/elt/booktroms sRteu, MYHOME TOWN, is a quietplace, and not manyships callat the port here,though in the lastcentury, before.the war with Britain,the portwas oftenbusy. Now the shipsgo down the coastto the greatsea-ports of Bostonor NewYork, and grass growsin the streetsaround the old port buildingsin Salem. Fora few years,when I was a youngman, I workedin the port officesof Salem.Most of the time, therewas very little worktodo, and one day in 1849lwaslooking through an old woodenbox in oneof the dusty,unused rooms of the building. It was full of papersabout long-forgottenships, but then somethingred caught my eye.I took it out andsaw that it was a piece of red material,in the shape of a letter about ten centimetreslong. lt wasthe capitalletter A. lt was a wonderful pieceof needlework,with patternsof gold threadaround the letter,but the materialwas now worn thin with age. It was a strangething to find.What could it mean?Was it oncepart of somefashionable lady's dress long years ago? Perhapsa markto showthat the wearerwas a famousperson, or someoneof goodfamily or greatimportance? The ScarletLetter

I held it in my hands,wondering, and it seemedto me that the scarletletter had some deep meaning,which I could not understand.Then I heldthe letterto my chestand - you must not doubt my words - experienceda strangefeeling of burning Hester Prynne'sshame heat.Suddenly the letterseemed to be not red material,but red-hotmetal. I trembled,and let the letterfall upon the floor. Then I saw that there was an old packet of papers next to its place in the box. I opened the packetcarefully and began (S n ,hn, June morning, in the middle years of the to read.There were severalpapers, explaining the history of seventeenth century) the prison in Boston was still a new the scarletletter, and containingmany detailsof the life and building. But it already Iooked old, and was a dark, ugly place, experiencesof a woman called HesterPrynne. She had died surrounded by rough grass. The only thing of beauty was a long ago, sometimein the 1690s,but many peoplein the state wild rose growing by the door' and its bright, sweet-smelling of Massachusettsat that time had known her name and story. flowers seemedto smile kindly at the poor prisoners who went And it is Hester Prynne's story that I tell you now. It is a story into that place, and at those who came out to their death. of the early years of Boston, soon after the City Fathers had A crowd of people waited in Prison Lane. The men all had - built with their own hands the first wooden buildings the beards, and wore sad-coloured clothes and tall grey hats. houses, the churches. . . and the prison. There were women, too' in the crowd, and all eyes watched the heavy wooden door of the prison. There was no mercy in the faces, and the women seemed to take a special interest in what was going to happen. They were country women, and the bright morning sun shone down on strong shoulders and wide skirts, and on round, red faces. Many of them had been born in England, and had crossedthe seatwenty years before, with the first families who came to build the town of Boston in New England. They brought the customs and religion of old England with them - and also the loud voices and strong opinions of Englishwomen of those times. 'It 'if would be better.' said one hard-faced woman of fifty, The ScarletLetter Hester Prynne's shame

we good, sensible,church-going women could judge this Hester Prynne. And would we give her the same light punishmentthat the magistratesgive her? No!' 'People 'that say,'said another woman, Mr Dimmesdale, her priest,is deeplysaddened by the shamethat this woman hasbrought on his church.' 'The magistratesare too merciful,' said a third woman. 'They shouldburn the letterinto her foreheadwith hot meral, not put it on the front of her dress!' 'She ,She oughtto die!'criedanother woman. hasbrought shameon all of us!Ah - hereshe comes!' The door of the prison openedand, like a black shadow coming out into sunshine,the prison officerappeared. He put his right hand on the shoulderof a woman and pulled her forward, but shepushed him away and steppedout into the open air. There was a child in her arms - a baby of three - months which shut its eyesand turned its head away from the bright sun. The woman'sface was suddenlypink underthe staresof the crowd, but shesmiled proudly and looked round at her neighboursand the peopleof her rown. On the bosomof her The woman smiledproudly and looked round dress,in fine red cloth and surroundedwith fantasticpatterns at the PeoPleof her town. of gold thread,was rheletter A. The youngwoman wastall and perfectlyshaped. She had But the thing that everyone stared at was the Scarlet Letter' long dark hair which shonein the sunlight, and a beautiful sewn so fantastically on to her dress. 'But facewith deepblack eyes. She walked like a lady, and those 'She is clever with her needle,' said one of the women. who had expected her to appear sad and ashamedwere what a way to show it! She is meant to wear that letter as a surprisedhow her beautyshone our through her misfortune. punishment, not as something to be proud of!' Tbe ScarletLetter Hester Prynne'sshame

The officer steppedforward and people moved back to than his right. Next came pictures of the tall grey houses and allow the woman to walk through the crowd. It was not far great churches of the city of Amsterdam, where a new life had from the prison to the market-place,where, at the western begun for her with this older man. end,in front of Boston'searliest church, stood the scaffold. And then, suddenly, she was back in the Boston market- Here, criminals met their death before the eyes of the place, standing on the platform of the scaffold. townspeople, but the scaffold platform was also used as a Could it be true? She held the child so close to her bosom placeof shame,where thosewho had done wrong in the eyes that it cried out. She looked down at the scarlet letter, touched of God were madeto stand and show their shamefulfaces to it with her finger to be sure that the child and the shame were the world. real. Yes - these things were real - everything else had Hester Prynne accepted her punishmenr bravely. She disappeared. walked up the wooden stepsto the platform, and turned to After a time the woman noticed two figures on the edge of face the staresof the crowd. the crowd. An Indian was standing there, and by his side was A thousand eyesfixed on her, looking at the scarletletter a white man, small and intelligent-looking, and wearing on her bosom. Peopletoday might laugh at a sight like this, clothes that showed he had been travelling in wild places.And but in thoseearly years of New England,religious feeling was although he had arranged his clothes to hide it, it was clear very strong, and the shameof Hester Prynne'ssin was felt to Hester Prynne that one of the man's shoulders was higher deeplyby young and old throughout rhe town. than the other. As shestood there,feeling every eye upon her, shefelt she Again, she pulled the child to her bosom so violently that wanted to screamand throw herselfoff the platform, or else it cried out in pain. But the mother did not seem to hear it. go mad at once.Pictures from the pastcame and went inside The man on the edge of the crowd had been looking closely her head:pictures of her villagein Old England,of her dead at Hester Prynne for some time before she saw him' At first, parents- her father'sface with his white beard,her mother,s his face had become dark and angry - but only for a moment, look of worried love. And her own face- a girl's face in the then it was calm again. Soon he saw Hester staring' and knew dark mirror where shehad often staredat it. And then the face that she recognizedhim. ''Who of a man old in years,a thin, white face,with the seriouslook 'Excuse me,' he said to a man near him. is this of one who spendsmost of his time studyingbooks. A man woman, and why is she standing there in public shame?' whose eyesseemed to seeinto the human soul when their 'You must be a stranger here, friend,' said the man, looking 'or owner wished it, and whose left shoulderwas a little hieher at the questioner and his Indian companion, you would Tbe ScarletLetter Hester Prynne'ssbame

know about the evil Mistressprynne. 'A 'It Shehas brought great sensiblepunishment,' said the stranger. will warn shameon Mr Dimmesdale'schurch., others 'It againstthis sin. However, it is wrong that the father is true,'said the ,I stranger. am new here.I havehad of her child,who hasalso sinned, is not standingby her side many accidentson land and at sea,and I,ve beena prisoner on the scaffold.But he will be known! He will be known!' of the wild men in the south. This Indian has helpedme ger The stranger thanked the townsman, whispered a few free. Pleasetell me what prynne brought this Hester to the words to his Indian companion, and then they both moved scaffold.' away 'She through the crowd. was the wife of an Englishman who lived in During this conversation,Hester Prynne had beenwatching Amsterdam,'said the ,He townsman. decidedto come to the stranger- and was glad to havethe staringcrowd between Massachusetts,and senr his wife aheadof him as he had herselfand him. It was better to srandlike this, than to have businessmatters to bring to an end before he could leave. to meethim alone,and shefeared the momentof that meeting During the two yearsrhat rhewoman haslived herein Boston, gready.Lost in thesethoughts, she did not at firsr hear the therehas been prynne; no newsof Master and his young wife, voice behind her. yousee...' 'Listen 'Ah! to me, HesterPrynne!' the voicesaid again. I understand,'said the stranger,with a cold smile. 'And It was the voiceof the famousJohn'Wilson, the oldestpriest who is the father of the child sheis holding?, in Boston, 'That and a kind man. He stood with the other priests remainsa mystery,' .Hester said the other man. and officers of the town on a balcony outside the Prynnerefuses to speakhis name., meeting-house, 'Her which was closebehind the scaffold. husbandshould 'I come and find the man.' said the haveasked my youngfriend'- Mr'Wilson put a handon stranger) with another smile. pale -'to 'Yes, the shoulderof the young priest besidehim askyou indeed he should if he is still alive,' replied the onceagain for the nameof the man who brought 'Our this terrible townsman. magistrates, you see,decided to be merciful. shameupon you. Mr Dimmesdalehas been your priest,and Sheis obviouslyguilty of adultery,and the usualpunishmenr is the best man to do it. Speak to the woman, Mr for adulteryis death.But prynne Mistress is young and good_ Dimmesdale.It is important to her soul,and to you, who cares looking, and her husband is probably at the boftom of the sea. about her soul.Persuade her to tell the truth!' So,in their mercy,the magistrateshave orderedher to stand The youngpriest had large,sad brown eyes,and lips that on the scaffold for three ,,A,, hours, and to wear the scarlet trembledas he spoke.He seemedshy and sensirive,and his for adultery for the rest of her life.' face had a fearful, half-frightenedlook. But when he spoke, The Scarlet Letter HesterPrynne's shame his simple words and sweet voice went straight to people's hearts and often brought tears to their eyes. He stepped forward on the balcony and looked down at the woman below him. 'Hester 'If Prynne,' he said. you think it will bring peaceto your soul, and will bring you closer to the path to heaven, speak out the name of the man! Do not be silent becauseyou feel sorry for him. Believe me, Hester, although he may have to step down from a high place and stand besideyou on the platform of shame, it is better to do that than ro hide a guilty heart through his life. Heaven has allowed you public shame, and the chance to win an open battle with the evil inside you and the sadnessoutside. Do you refuseto give him that same chance - which he may be too afraid to take himself ?' Hester shook her head, her face now as pale as the young priest's. 'I 'My will not speak his name,' she said. child must find a father in heaven. She will never know one on earth!' Again she was asked, and again she refused.Then the oldest priest spoke to the crowd about all the evil in the world, and about the sin that brought the mark of the scarlet letter. For an hour or more he spoke, but Hester Prynne kept her place alone upon the platform of shame. \7hen the hours of punishment were over, she was taken back to the prison. And it was whispered by those who stared after her that the scarlet letter threw a rerrible, ghostly light into the darknessinside the orison doors. 'I will not speal

10 11 Ro ger C b illingtu orth's se cret

'Here, 'The woman!'hesaid. childis yours,not mine.Give this to her.' Hester did not move, and when she spoke,her voice was 'Don't RogerChillingworth's secrer a whisper. take your revengeon an innocent child.' 'Silly woman!' he replied,half coldly, half kindly. 'If this poor, miserablebaby was my own - mine, aswell asyours! - I would giveher the samemedicine.' ack inside prison, the Hester Prynne became strangely Hester still hesitated,so he took the child and gaveher the fearful and excited. The prison officer, Master Brackett, medicinehimself. Almost at onceshe became quiet, and after watched her carefully, aftaid that she would do something a moment fell peacefullyasleep. violent, either to herself or to the child. By night-time, unable Chillingworth preparedanother drink of medicineand held to quieten her, 'Drink and worried about the child who screamed out the cup to Hester. it!' he said.'It cannotquieten without stopping, Brackett decided to bring a doctor to her. your troubledsoul, but it will calm you.' He described him to Hester as someone who had learned Shetook it from him slowly, but her eyeswere full of doubt much about natural medicines from the Indians. But the man about his reasonsfor helping her. Then she looked at her who followed Brackett into the prison was the man Hester sleepingchild. had seen on the edge 'I 'I of the crowd earlier, the man she had havethought of death,'she said. havewished for it, and watched in fear. His name, she was told, was Roger evenprayed for it, but if death is in this cup, rhen I ask you Chillingworth. to think again beforeI drink it.' Brackett 'You brought the man in, and stood watching in need not be afraid,' he replied calmly. 'If I wanted surprise as Hesrer became as still as death. The child. revenge,then what more could I ask for than to let you live however, continued to cry. - and suffer,under the shadowof this shame?' 'Please leave us alone,' Chillingworth said to the prison As he spoke,he put his finger on the scarletletrer, which 'and officer, you will soon have peacein your house.' suddenlyseemed to burn red-hoton Hester'sbosom. He had entered the room calmly, carrying a small bag, and Shedrank the medicinequickly, then sat down on the bed he remained calm after Brackett had left them. First he went where the child was sleeping.She warched, trembling as rhe to the child and looked carefully at her. Then he opened his man shehad wronged pulled up a chair and sat besideher. bag, took out powder, 'Hester,' 'you've some and put it into a cup of water. he said, beenweak, but I've beenstupid.

12 13 The ScarletLetter Roger Chillingwort h's secret

Look at me! I'm old and ugly. I was ugly from the moment that I was born. But you?You were young and beautiful,and full of life. How could I haveimagined, the day thatl married you, that you would everlove me?How could a man of books and learningbe so stupid?' 'I neverfelt or pretendedany love for you,' saidHester. 'True,'he 'But replied. I hopedto makeyou love me.' 'I havegreatly wronged you,'Hester whispered. '\7e 'I'm havewronged each other,' he said. not looking for revenge,Hester. I wish you no harm. But thereis a man livine who haswronged us both! Who is he?' 'Do not ask me!' shecried, looking straightat him. .you will neverknow his name!' 'Believe His smile was both dark and confident. me, 'I Hester,'hesaid, shallknow him! Although he doesnor wear a letterof shameon his clothes,as you do, I shallread it on his heart.I shallsee it in his eyes.I shallwatch him tremble, and I will feelmyself tremble with him. But don,t be afraid. I won't hurt him, or harm his positionin the town if he is an importanrman here.Nor shallI inform the law. No, let him 'Belieue Iive!Let him pretendto be an honestman! Heavenwill punish me,' Chillingworthsaid,'I shaLll

I4 15 The Scarlet Letter

'Perhaps becauseI do not want to hear what peoplesay abouta husbandwho loseshis wife ro anotherman,'he said. 'Let them think your husbandis alreadydead. pretend not to know me. Do not tell our secretto anyone,and most of all, A fatherlesschild not to your lover. Do not fail in this, Hester!Remember, his good name,his position,his life will be in my hands!' 'I will keepyour secret,as I havekept his,,said Hester. 'And now, MistressPrynne,' said the man calledRoger 'I [fl.rr., Prynne'stime in prison now cameto an end,but she Chillingworth, will leaveyou alonewith your child and the did not move away from the town. The father of her child scarletleffer!'He smiled,slowly. Iived here, and here she would stay; although shekept this Hester staredat him, afraid of the expressionin his eyes. thought hidden guiltily 'N7hy ,Have in her heart. The reason she gave do you smileat me?'she asked. you ried me 'I herselffor stayingwas this: sinnedhere, and I will suffermy into an agreementthat will destroy my soul?' 'Not earthlypunishment here.' your soul,'heanswered, with anothersmile. ,No, not There was a smallcottage just outsidethe town, looking yours!' out acrossthe seatowards the forest-coveredhills of the west, and Hesterand her child went to live in this lonelylittle house. They had no friends, but Hester soon found that shecould earn enough money to buy food and clothesfor herselfand her daughter. Shewas cleverwith a needle,and the scarletletter which shewore on her bosom was a perfect exampleof her work that everyonecould see.Soon, Hester's beautiful sewing, with its patternsin gold and silverthread, became the fashionwith the rich and important peopleof the town. Her needlework was seenon the shirts of the Governor, on the fine dressesof the ladies, on the babies' little coats and hats, and on the burial-clothes of the dead. Hester had employment for as many hours as shewanted to work.

I6 T7 The Scarlet Letter A fatberlesschild

Sheused wharever time shehad left ro make clothesfor the be better for the child to grow up in a more godly home than poor people of the town, although shegot no thanks for it. Hester Prynne's. And indeed,she found no kindnessanywhere. The puritans So it was a worried Hester who walked to the Governor's of that time werehard judges,and a woman who had sinned house that morning. She had dressed her daughter in a as Hesterhad sinnedwas alwaysan outsider.Every word, beautiful red dress, adding to the child's natural beauty, and every look, every cold, accusingsilence reminded her of the as Pearl danced along beside her mother, it had a strange shameand the lonely miseryof her life. Eventhe childrenran effect. The child in her red dress seemed like the scarlet letter after her in the street,shouting terrible names. in another shape; the scarlet letter given life and movement. Shelived very simply. Her own dresseswere made from At the Governor's house the door was opened by a servant. 'Is dark, sad-colouredcloth, with the scarletletter bright on the the Governor in?' asked Hester. 'Yes,' 'But bosom.Her child'sclothes were the opposite- in materials replied the servant. there are people with him at of deep, rich colours, with beautiful patterns sewn in gold the moment. You can't seehim now.' 'I'll thread. wait,' said Hester, and steppedinto the entrance hall. Her daughter'sname was Pearl.She was a prettychild, but The hall was wide with a high ceiling, and there were heavy a child of many moods - one minute bright and happy and chairs along one side and a long table in the centre. At the far loving,the next minuredark and angry.A child of sin, shehad end of the hall was a big glass door, which opened out into no right to play with the children of godly families and, like a garden. Hester could seerose bushes and apple trees, and her mother, she was an outsider. In a strange way pearl Pearl immediately began to cry for a red rose. 'Shh! 'Look, seemedto understandthis, and often screamedand threw Be quiet, child!' said her mother. the stones at the other children. Hester worried about her Governor is coming down the garden path, with three more daughter'swildness and tried hard to correcther, but without gentlemen.' much success.Sometimes, her only hours of peace and Governor Bellingham, with his grey beard, walked in front. quietnesswere when Pearlwas sleeping. Behind him came John Wilson, the old priest, whose beard One day, when Pearlwas about three yearsold, Hester was as white as snow; and behind him was Arthur went to the houseof Governor Bellingham.She was taking a Dimmesdale, with Roger Chillingworth. The young priest's fine shirt shehad sewn, but shealso wanted to speakto the health had been poor for some time, and Roger Chillingworth, Governor in person.She had heard that many puritansin the well known in the town for his knowledge of medicines, was town wantedto take Pearlaway from her. They saidit would now both friend and doctor to him.

18 19 The ScarletLetter A fatherlesschild

The Governor pushedopen the - door and found himserf to bring Pearlacross to him, but sheescaped through the open looking ar pearl, while Hester srood in the shadow of a door and stood on the step outside,looking like a richly currain, half-hidden. 'I7hat coloured bird ready to fly away. havewe here?,said Governor Bellingham,surprised 'Pearl,'said Mr \filson, with a seriouslook on his face. to see the little scarletfigure in front of him. 'Listen 'Yes, to me, child. Can you tell me who madeyou?' what little bird is this?, ,$fho saidold Mr.STilson. are Now Pearlknew the answervery well, becauseHester had you, child?' told her about God many times, and had explainedthose 'My pearl,, nameis answeredthe little girl. 'Pearl?' things which every child should know. But Pearl put her repliedthe old priest.,Bur whereis your mother? fingersin her mouth and would not speak. Ah! I see her now.' He turned to the Governor 'You 'This and must answergood Mr \filson's question,'said her whispered, is the child we weretalking abour,and look, mother.'Please, Pearl! Tell him what you know.' here is the unhappy woman, Hester prynne, 'My 'Is her mother!, mother picked me from the wild rosebush that grows that right?, cried the Governor. ,She comesat a good outsidethe prisondoor!' saidPearl. time.'Wewill discussthe matter now., He steppedthrough the Roger Chillingworth smiled and whisperedsomething in door into the hall, followed .Hesrer by his three guesrs. theyoung priest's ear. Prynne, we have been asking many questionsabout you 'This is terrible!' cried the Governor. 'The child is three recently.Are you the right person ro teachthis child the ways yearsold, and shedoes not know who madeher! I do not of God, and so make sure of a place in heavenfor her soul? think, gentlemen,that we needto ask any more!' You, a woman who has sinned! Will it not be better for her Hester pulled Pearltowards her and held her hand. 'God if we take her away from you, and teach her the truths of gaveme the child,' shecried. 'She is my happiness,my pain! heaven and earth?What canyow d,ofor her, 'I woman?, You shallnot take her! I will die first!' can teachmy little pearlwhat I havelearned from this!, 'My poor woman,' saidthe old priest,kindly, 'we will find answered prynne, Hester putting her finger on 'Every the scarlet someonewho will take care of the child far better than you letter. day, it teachesme lessonsthat t passon to my can.' child. Shewill be a berterand wiserperson than I everwas., 'God gaveher to me!' repeatedHester, her voicehigh and Bellinghamturned to the old priest. ,Mr X7ilson,see whar afraid.'I will not let her go!'Sheturned to Mr Dimmesdale. thischild knows,'he said. 'Speakfor me!' shecried. 'You were my priest,and you know The old priestsat down in one of the heavychairs and tried me betterthan thesemen. You know what is in mv heart.and

20 21, The Scarlet Letter A fatherlesschild

a bell. 'God gaveher the child, and is that not part of God's plan for this poor, sinfulwoman? \7ith the child by her side, everyday shewill be remindedof her great sin, her shame;and the pain and sadnessof it will alwaysbe with her. But God has given her a job to do, which will keepher soul alive and saveher from further sin. Shemust love and carefor the child, and teach it the ways of God, to know good from evil, right from wrong. And, with God's great mercy, if shebrings the child to heaven,then the child alsowill bring its mother there! No, no, we should leavethe mother and child together,and let God's gift do its work savingthe mother'ssoul!' 'You speak,my friend, with a strangepassion,' said old Roger Chillingworth, smiling at him. 'And my young friend speakswisely,' said Mr'tJfilson. ''What do you think, Governor?Does he speakwell for the poor woman?' 'He 'Indeed he does,' replied Governor Bellingham. arguessensibly, and so we will leavethings as they are.Master Dimmesdale,you shallbe responsiblefor makingsure that the girl receivesthe right teaching,and that she goesto school 'You shall not take her! I will die first!' Hester uied. when sheis old enoughto do so.' The young priest now stood at the side of the group, his how strongly a mother feelswhen shehas norhing excepther facehalf-hidden by the heavywindow curtain. Pearl,that wild child and the scarlerletrer!, and playful little thing, moved softly towards him, took his The young priest stepped forward, his face white and hand, and put it gently against her cheek. Her mother 'Is nervous,and with pain in his largedark eyes. watched,surprised. that my Pearl?'she thought, although 'There is truth in what shesays,' he began.His voicewas she knew there was love in the child's heart. And Mr sweet and genrle,but it seemedto ring through the hall like Dimmesdalelooked round, put a hand on Pearl'shead, The ScarletLetter

hesitatedfor a moment,rhen kissed her forehead.Little pearl laughedand half-ran, half-danceddown the hall. 'A strangechild!' saidold RogerChillingworth. ,It is easy to seethat sheis her mother'sdaughter. But could a clever A man sentby the Devil man guess,from the child,s narure and from the way she behaves,the nameof her father?, 'It is better to pray for an answerto that question,than to 'Better try to guess,'said Mr Wilson. still to leaveit a mystery, or three years the man calling himself Roger so that every good and godly man can show a father's Chillingworth had made his home in the town. Only Hester kindnesstowards the poor fatherlesschild., Prynne knew the secretsof his past life, which he had put Hester Prynneand her daughter then left the house.As they behind him, but he held the lock and key to her silenceand went down the steps,a window was thrown open and a head felt quite safe.His planshad changed.There were new, darker appeared.It was Governor Bellingham,ssister, Mistress arrangementsto make;new, secretthings to do with his time. Hibbins, calling down to invite Hester ro a parry with the He had studiedmedicine and knew enoughfor other people Devil in the forest that night. some peoplesaid that Mistress to acceptand welcome him as a doctor. Medical men were Hibbins was more than a little mad; orherssaid she was truly difficult to find in New Eneland at that time. a friend of the Devil. Mad, evil, a friend of the Devil, or all Soon after his arrival, he became friendly with Mr three, no one knows, but a few yearslater shewas judged to Dimmesdale,and madethe young man his religiousguide. It be a witch and was killed on the scaffold. was at this time, however,that the youngpriest's health began 'No, thank you!'Hestercalled back to her,with a smile..If to fail. He grew thin and pale;his voice,though still rich and they evertook Pearlaway from me, I would go with you and sweet, now had a sadnessand tiredness about it. And sign my name in the Devil,s book, even in bloodl But little sometimes,when he was alarmedby something,he would put Pearl is srill with me, and so I musr sray at home and keep his hand over his heart, and his eyeswould fill with pain. watch over her.' The young priestwas greatlyrespected in the town; people thought he was a selflessand deeply religious man. They worried that his long hours of study and hard work for the church were damaginghis health, so they were pleasedwhen Roger Chillingworth becamea friend of the young man and

24 Tbe ScarletLetter A man sentby the Deuil also offered to be his doctor. 'God has sent this man to help friends of Mr Dimmesdale arranged for the two men to live our priest!' they said. in the same house. They thought it was the best and mosr But Mr Dimmesdale would not listen to his friends, and sensiblearrangement, at least until Mr Dimmesdale decided gently turned away all advice. 'I need no medicine,'he said. to marry some suitable young lady. (Although for some reason But how could he say so when each week his face became they did not understand, the young man refused to even think paler and thinner; his voice trembled more rhan before; and about marriage.) Now the good doctor could keep an even putting his hand over his heart becamea habit?'$7ashe tired closer watch on their young friend's health. of his work? Did he wish to die? The house was next to the town's graveyard, and Mr The older priests put these questions to him, and reminded Dimmesdale had an apartment in the front of the building, him that refusing medical help - perhaps - help sent by God where he could enjoy the morning sun and where there was was a sin. Mr Dimmesdale listened in silence. and finallv plenty of room for his many books. In rooms on the other side promised to take advice from the doctor. of the house, Roger Chillingworth arranged his papers, and 'Though if God 'I wished ir,' he said, would be happy to the special things needed for making medicines. leave behind my work, my worries and my sins and be buried However, not all the townspeople were h"ppy. Many in my grave.' people suspected that the mysterious doctor was not all he ++x pretended to be. One old man, who had come from London So this was how the mysterious Roger Chillingworth more than thirty years ago, was sure that Chillingworth had became the medical adviser of Mr Arthur Dimmesdale. The lived in that city, using another name. Others spoke of the two men, one young and one old, began to spend much time change in the man since he had come to live in the town. At together, walking along beside the sea or in the forest, ofren first, his expression had been calm, thoughtful, the face of a collecting plants to use for making medicines. Chillingworth man who spent his time studying. Now, there was something watched and listened to his patient, asking questions ugly and evil in his face. Some people even believed that carefully, digging deeper and deeper into the other man,s Chillingworth had been sent by the Devil and was after the thoughts and feelings. They spoke about public and private young priest's soul. Everyone, however, was confident that Mr things; about health and religion; even about personal matters. Dimmesdale would be the winner of this battle. But no secret, however much Chillingworth suspected there As the months and years went by, the change in Roger was one, ever came out of their discussions. Chillingworth grew greater. He had begun with the calmness After a time, at the suggestion of Roger Chillingworth, the of a judge, wanting only to know the truth. But as he

26 Tbe ScarletLetter A man sentby the Deuil

continued, the need to know burned in him like a fever. and rrcedle-likeedges to the scarletletter on her mother'sdress. he dug into the priest's soul, like a man searching for gold. llesterdid not pull them off. And poor Mr Dimmesdale, sick at heart, too afraid to call any Roger Chillingworth had joined Mr Dimmesdaleat the 'no man his friend, could not recognize an enemy either. window. 'That child hasno respectfor others,'he said, One day, he was in Chillingworth,sroom, looking out of icleaof right or wrong. I sawher the other day throwing water the window ar rhe graveyard opposite, while the older man rrtthe Governorhimself! What, in heaven'sname, is she?A was arranging some plants that he had collected. child of the devil?Has sheno kindlinessin her?' 'Where did you get the plants with the dark leaves?,the 'I do not know,' repliedMr Dimmesdale,quietly. priest asked Chillingworth. The girl probably heard their voices. She looked up, 'From ,I the graveyard,' answered the other man. found laughed, then threw one of the purple flowers at Mr them growing on a grave without a gravestone, or anything l)immesdale.And when the young priestjumped backwith perhaps to tell me the dead man's name. these black plants a little cry, shewas delightedand laughedeven louder. grew out of a heart that hid some terrible secret, one that was HesterPrynne also looked up at that moment, and all four buried with him.' of thesepersons now stared at each other silently until the 'Perhaps the poor man wanted to tell it, but could not,' said child laughedagain, and shouted: .Tell Mr Dimmesdale. He was silent for a while, then went on, 'Come away,mother! Come away,or that nastyold man me, doctor, is my health any better since you began to take up therewill catchyou! He has alreadycaught the priest!But care of this poor, weak body of mine?' hewon't catchlittle Pearl!'Andshe pulled her mother away) Before Chillingworth could answer, they heard a young then dancedoff betweenthe graves. child laughing. The sound came from the graveyard, and the 'There goesa woman,' saidRoger Chillingworth, after a priest looked 'who down from the open window and saw Hester pause, cannothide her shame.It is there, for all to see. Prynne and little Pearl walking along the path. pearl looked But is HesterPrynne more, or less,miserable than peoplewho as beautiful as the day, bur was behaving badly. Shejumped keeptheir sinfulnesshidden?' from grave to grave, finally dancing on one of the larger graves 'I cannot answerfor her,' said Mr Dimmesdale,his face until her mother called our ro her. pale.'There was a look of pain in her facewhich it hurt me 'Pearl, stop it! Behaveyourself!' cried Hester prynne. to see,but I think it must be better for sinnersto be free to The girl stopped, but only to collect the purple flowers from show their pain, as this poor woman Hesterdoes, than to a tall plant. She took a handful of them, and fasrenedtheir coverit all up in their heart.'

28 29 The Scarlet Letter A man sent by the Deuil

'How 'It can you ask?'replied the priest. would be stupid to call in a doctor and then hide the injury.' Roger Chillingworth stared hard at the other man's face. 'Yes, but the injury or evil we can seeis often only half the 'sometimes lrroblem,' he said. it is the sicknessof a man's soul that is the reason for his sick body. And then' how can a doctor help his patient to get better unless his patient tells him what is troubling his soul?' 'No, not to you!' cried Mr Dimmesdale, his eyessuddenly 'Only wild and bright. God can save a man whose sickness is a sicknessof the soul! Let him do with me what he will! But who are you to involve yourself in this matter? \fho are you to stand between a sufferer and his God?' And he ran angrily from the room. 'Nothing Roger Chillingworth smiled to himself. is lost. We shall be friends again. But look how his passiontakes hold of him! He has done a wild thing before now, this godly Mr Tbe young priestjwmped pearl back witb a little cry, and laughed. Dimmesdale, in the hot passion of his heart.' Not long afterwards, as expected, the young priest There was .you another pause, then the doctor said, asked returned and apologized. He asked his friend to continue to a little while ago for my opinion on your health.' care for him, and the doctor agreed to do so. 'I .Speak did,'said Mr Dimmesdale. freely. Do not be afraid **+ to tell me the truth, whether it is good news or bad.' A few days after this, Mr Dimmesdale falls asleepin his chair' 'Your illness is a srrange one,' said Chillingworth, going while reading in his study. Later' Roger Chillingworth comes back to his plants. 'I find it difficult to understand. Let me ask into the room and seesthat the other man is sleeping.He steps you, as a friend as well as your doctor, have you told me forward, and pulls open the priest's shirt. everything? Is there anything you have not told me which After a short pause, he turns awlf t but with what a wild might help me find the true reason for your illness?' look of wonder, joy, and horror!

30 31, A night on tbe scaffold

:rnd told them . . . what? He told them he was the worst of sinners,hateful, dishonest,unclean, an evil thing in the sight of God. But did they understand? No! They listened, and then A nighron the scaffold t<>ldeach other how lucky they were to have a man like this for their priest. Only a strong and godly man' they said, could speak so openly about his weaknesses. Arthur Dimmesdale could find no peace in his heart. He fter this discovery,Roger Chillingworth,s plan slowly could not sleep at night, but would sit staring at his face in a changed. Although he appearedcalm and gentle, without rnirror, hour after hour. Often' as he looked, his own face passion, therewas insidehim a deep,slow_burning cruelty, would be replaced by the accusing faces of others - dead an evil wish to bring a terrible revengeon his enemy. The friends from long ago, his white-bearded father, his mother. priest's guilty sadnesswas a weaponin his mercilesshands. And worst of all, Hester Prynne, walking with little Pearl and Everyday he played,like a cat with a mouse,with the fear and pointing her finger first at the scarlet letter on her bosom, and the shame lying hiddenin the young man,ssoul. then at the priest's own chest. But on the outsidehe was still a friend, kindly and smiling. One sleepless summer night, seven years from the time Arthur Dimmesdale could feel somethingevil watching him, when Hester stood in public shame on the scaffold, the priest but he did not know what it was.He lookedwith doubt and sat up suddenly in his chair. An idea had come to him. fear- - at rimeseven with hate at the figureof the old doctor; 'There might be a moment's peacein it,'he said to himself, then he would punish himself for these unkind thoughts, and softly went down the stairs and out into the night. blamingthem on the guilt and shameeating away athisheart. He walked silently through the dark streets to the place of And all this black troublein his soul had madehim more Hester Prynne's first hours of public shame - the scaffold. The famousand popular as a priestthan ever.To the peoplein his priest went up the stepsto the platform. church, he seemedvery close to God, a man full of It was midnight, and the town was asleep.Clouds covered gentleness and understandingof the pain and suffering of the sky, and Mr Dimmesdale could stand there until others. morning without fear of discovery. \7hy, then, was he here? More ''Jfhat than once,Mr Dimmesdaleprepared himself to speak had made him come? Guilt? Shame?He did not know. to his people about the black secretof his soul.More than But a feeling of great horror went through his whole body, oncehe stood in front of them in church,took a deepbreath, and he cried out a terrible scream' which echoed through the

l1 JL 33 The Scarlet Letter A nigbr on the scaffold

night, from one housero another and to the hills beyondthe 'I shallbe too cold to movesoon" Mr Dimmesdalethought' town. 'I won't evenbe able to walk down the steps.'Crazy pictures 'It 'someone is done!' whisperedthe priest, coveringhis facewith his passedbefore his eyes. will find me herein the early hands.'The whole town will wake up and find me here., nrorning,and will run aroundknocking on doors.Everyone But the people of the town did not wake up, or if they did, will hurry out in their night-clothes- Governor Bellingham, they imagined the cry was somethingwhich camefrom their with his buttons undone;his sister'mad MistressHibbins, dreams. When he heard no soundsof feet hurrying rowards staringwith her wild eyes,and good Father'Wilsontoo, tired him, the young priest uncoveredhis eyesand looked around. rrfterspending half the night at a death-bed.Yes, everyone in At a window in GovernorBellingham,s house, which was not the world will come running! And who will they see?They far away, he saw the Governor himself, in his white will seetheir priest,half-frozento death' coveredwith shame' nightshirt, with a light in his hand. and standingwhere Hester Prynne once stood!' 'He looks Iike a ghost,,thought Mr Dimmesdale.And after Now he beganto laugh'loudly and wildly' unableto stop a moment, the light disappearedfrom the window. himself.Then he heardan answeringlaugh - a child'slaugh The priest becamecalmer. Then he noticedanother light, - and his heartjumped. It was little Pearl. coming 'Little 'Hester! towards him along the street.As it camenearer, he 'Pearl!'he cried. Pearl!'Then more softly, saw that the personcarrying it was the old priest,Mr \filson. HesterPrynne, are you there?' 'He has beenpraying at rhe bedsideof somedying man,, 'Yes, it is me,' Hester Prynne replied. She sounded thoughtMr 'It Dimmesdale. surprised. is me, and my little Pearl.' And so he had. The old priestwas now on his way home 'Wherehave you comefrom, Hester?'he asked. from rffinthrop, 'I've the death-bedof Mr who had just died. 'From Mr Winthrop'sdeath-bed,' she said. measured As Mr Wilson passedby the scaffold,Mr Dimmesdale him for his burial-clothes,and I am now goinghome.' found it difficult nor to speak. . . 'Come up here,Hester, you and little Pearl" saidthe priest' 'Good please eveningto you, Father! comeup and spend 'You have both beenhere before,but I was not with you' a pleasant hour with me!' Comeup now, and all threeof us shallstand together.' Good heavens!Had Mr Dimmesdaleactually spoken? For Hester silently climbed up the steps and stood on the onemoment he believedthat thesewords had passedhis lips, platform, holding Pearl'shand. The priestfound and held the but he had only imagined them. Mr Wilson walked on, child's other hand, and immediatelyfelt a warm' strong looking ahead, not onceturning towards the platform. feelingin his heart, filling it with new life.

34 35 The ScarletLetter A night on the scaffold

,\fill Pearl looked up at the priest. you stand here with motherand me tomorrow, Mr Dimmesdale?'she whispered. 'No, my little Pearl,'answered the priest.The momentof passionarefeeling had passed.Already, he wastrembling, and .I all his fear of public shamehad returned. shall stand with you and your motherone day, but not tomorrow.' '\7hen?'Pearl .\fhat asked. day?,She tried to pull her hand away from the priest's. 'The ,Then, greatjudgement day,, he whispered. and there, your mother and I must stand together.But not beforethenl not in the daylightof this world., Beforehe had finishedspeaking, a light appeared,far and wide in the night sky. It was almost certainlycaused by a meteor'and it lit up the whole streetlike day. And therestood the priest, with his hand over his heart; and Hester prynne, with the scarlerle*er on her bosom;and little pearlstanding betweenthese two, looking up at the priest with a playful smile.She pointed acrossthe street,but he put borh his hands acrosshis chestand looked up at the sky. However, he knew that little pearl was pointing her finger at a man standingnear rhe scaffold - Roger Chillingworth. Did the priesrsee him too?Or, in the srrangeunearthly light, did he seeonly the evil smile, the hate behind the eyes,and believethat he was seeingthe Devil himself? The meteordisappeared as suddenly as it had appeared.Mr .\fho Dimmesdale,now tremblingwith terror, said, is that man, Hester?Do you know him? I hatehim, Hester!, The priest knew that little Pearl was pointing Sheremembered her promise,and was silent. her finger at RogerChillingworth. The ScarletLetter

'Who is he?Who is he?'criedMr Dimmesdale.,Can you do nothing for me?I havea horror of the man!, 'I can tell you who he is,, saidlittle pearl. 'Quickly, .'Whisper then,child,, said the priest. ro me!, Hester meetsthe enemY But the child whisperedmeaningless words into the priest,s ear,and laughed. '\7hy areyou playinggames with me?,said the priest. 'You would not promiseto hold my hand,and my mother,s IIn", meeting with Mr Dimmesdale on the scaffold hand,here tomorrow,'replied the child. worried Hester Prynne gready' She saw the young priest's The doctor .Mr was now by the platform. Dimmesdale!, his misery' and how close he was to madness; 'Have weakness and he said. you been walking in your sleep?Come, my dear she heard the terror in his voice as he asked her for help' And friend,ler me take you home.' a right to all the help she could give him' 'How she decided he had did you know I was here?,asked the priest,fearfully. town was now rather different' In the 'I Her position in the did not know,'said ,I Chillingworrh. havebeen with Mr sevenyears since Pearl was born, Hester had worn the scarlet Xfinthrop, doing what little I could for a dying man. Now I letter patiently and had led a hard-working and blamelesslife' am on my way home. Come with me, please,or you will not People no longer hated her; some even respected her' be well enoughto you do your work tomorrow. should not 'She is always ready to give what she can to the poor,' they studyso hard, good sir!' 'although gets little thanks for the food she takes to 'I said, she will go homewith you,'said Mr Dimmesdale,defeated. them, or the clothes she makes for them.' And, like someone waking up from an ugly dream, he And whenever a house was darkened by trouble, Hester tollowed the doctor back to their house. was there with warm and kindly words, and the offer of help' But when sunshine came again, she left without looking back or waiting for the grateful thanks of those who had been troubled. And afterwards, when she saw them in the street, she did not lift her head to speak to them but put her finger on her scarlet letter of shame, and passedby. Beneath her calmness, however, there had often been great Ioneliness and suffering. These had made her strong and she

38 39 The Scarlet Letter Hester meets the enemy

now felt able to face the man who had once been her husband. no Ionger the calm, intelligent man,she remembered; now It was clear to Hester that this man was the priest,s secret there was a cruel, searchinglook in his eyes,and a cold half- enemy, playing the part of a friend and helper, and slowly but smile came and went on his face. Seven years of getting surely driving the priest into madness. enjoyment from a cruel revenge had,left the Devil's mark on In short, 'His she decided to talk to Roger Chillingworth, and him. soul seemsto be on fire!'Hester thought. to do what she 'I could to srop his cruel and evil revenge. want to speak to you about Mr Dimmesdale,' she said. She did not 'And 'Speak have long to wait. One afternoon, while what about him?'cried Roger Chillingworth. walking with Pearl along the beach, she saw the old doctor freely, and I will answer.' with a basket 'When in one hand and a stick in the other. He was we last spoke together, sevenyears ago,' Hester said, collecting plants. 'you made me promise not to tell anyone that we once lived 'Go down to the warer and play while I talk ro this as husband and wife. I agreed to be silent because,as you said gentleman,' Hester told her daughter. then, his position and his life were in your hands. But I see The child flew away like a bird, her small white feet making now that I was wrong to keep silent. Since that day, you have patterns in the wet sand at the edge of the sea. Her mother been beside him, sleeping and waking. You search his walked up to Roger Chillingworth. thoughts and his heart, and each day you cause him to die a 'I would like to speak to you,' she said. living death! And it is I who have allowed this to happen!' 'Ah! Mistress ,I 'N7hat 'A Hester!, he answered. hear news of your elsecan you do?'asked Chillingworth. word from good work from everyone I speak to. Only yesterday a me, and this man would be thrown from his church into a magistrate whispered to me that the officers of the town were prison - and from there, to the scaffold!' discussing whether 'Perhaps 'Haven't the scarlet letter could now be taken off that would be better!' said Hester. you your bosom. "You should do it at once,', I told him.' had your revenge?Hasn't he suffered enough for his sins?' 'It is not for some 'No!' 'Do magistrate to take off this letter,, Hester answered the doctor. you remember me, replied calmly. 'When - - if ever I earn the rieht to be rid of Hester, as I was nine years ago? You thought I was cold, it, it will fall off without anyone's help., perhaps, but was I not kind and true, and a good friend to ''Wear it, then, ,It if you want to,, said Chillingworth. is a others?' fine piece of needlework 'Yes,' 'All and looks well on your bosom., said Hester. that, and more.' \X/hile they 'And spoke, Hesrer had been watching him closely what am I now?'he asked, and his face showed the and was full of 'A wonder at the changeshe saw in him. He was evil that was in him. devil! And who made me this?'

41 The ScarletLetter Hester meets the enemy

'It 'Me, was me,'saidHester, trembling. asmuch as he. So But there is no good for him, no good for me, no good for you, why didn't you punishme?' no good for little Pearl. There is no path to guide any of us 'You 'That had the scarletletter,' he said. was enough out of this misery.' revengefor me.' He put his finger on it with a smile. ,Now, Roger Chillingworth stared at the tall, proud woman in what do you want to sayabout this man?' front of him, and heard the pain in her voice. Did he then 'I must tell him the truth about you,' saidHester. ,He must remember the love he had once felt for her? 'What 'I 'You know who you are,and why you aredoing this to him. am sorry for you,'he said. were a good person, and the resultwill be,I do not know. Do what you want with him. you needed a better love than mine.' 'And 'and I am sorry for you,' said Hester, for the hate that has changed a wise and merciful man into a devil! Try to be human again! Forgive, and leave judgement to God!' 'That 'You is not possible,' replied the old man. planted the evil, and now its black flowers are growing.'S7e cannot change the way things are.' He turned and walked away) and a dark shadow seemed to follow him along the ground. 'I Hester stared after him. hate the man!' shewhispered to 'How herself. I wish I had never married him!' Sheturned to 'Pearl! look for her child. Little Pearl! \fhere are you?' The child had been busy while her mother had been talking. First she had played at the edge of the water, then she had made little boats out of pieces of wood. Then, seeingsome birds feeding on the beach, she had picked up some stonesand thrown them until one little grey bird had flown away with a broken wing. For her last game, Pearl collected some grass and used it to make a letter A on her chest. 'Will 'You Mother had the scarletletter,' said Chillingworth. ask me what it means?'she wondered. 'That was enougbreuenge for me.' Then she heard her mother calling and, moving as lightly

43 Tbe ScarletLetter asone of the little sea-birds,she appeared beside Hester and pointed her finger towards the letter A on her bosom. 'My little Pearl,'said Hester, after a moment'ssilence. 'the greenletter meansnothing on your childish bosom. But do A walk in the forest you know why your mother wearsit?' 'Oh, 'It yes!'said Pearl, smiling. is for the samereason that the priestputs his hand overhis heart!' 'And what reasonis that?'asked Hester. or several days, Hester Prynne waited for a chance to 'I 'Mother, don't know,' replied Pearl. what does this speak privately with Mr Dimmesdale. She would not go to his scarletletter mean?\il7hy do you wear it on your bosom?And house becauseshe was afraid of meeting Roger Chillingworth. why doesthe priestkeep his hand over his heart?' Then she heard that the priest had gone to visit a family a little Hester stareddown into her daughter'sblack eyes.\7hat distance away and would be returning the next afternoon, 'Come, ''We should shesay? The truth? No! If thar was the price of the through the forest. Pearl,' she said the next day. child'sunderstanding, she could not pay it. are going for a walk in the forest.' 'Silly 'There Pearl!'she said. aremany things in this world The trees were tall and close together, and the path through that a child must not ask about. \fhat do I know about the them was dark and narrow under a grey sky. 'Mother,' 'the priest'sheart? And asfor the scarletletter, I wear it for its gold said little Pearl, sunshinedoes not love you. thread.' It runs away and hides itself becauseit is afraid of something It was the first time that Hester had lied about rhe letter, on your bosom. But it will not run away from me, because I and the child did not stop askingthe samequesrions. Two or do not wear anything on my bosom yet.' 'And 'Now, three times on the way home, severaltimes at supper, and never will, my child, I hope,'said Hester. run 'Mother, againthe next morning, Pearlasked, Mother, what away and catch the sunshine.' doesthe scarletletter mean?' and'Nfhy doesthe priestkeep Pearl ran off, and Hester smiled when she saw that her child his hand overhis heart?' had found a circle of sunshine between the trees. But when 'Stop 'It it!' Hestersaid, in a sharpervoice than shehad ever Hester came near to it, Pearl said, will go now.' 'Stop 'Look, usedbefore. it, or I'll shut you in the dark cupboard!' Hester smiled. I can put out my hand and hold some of it.' But when sheput her hand into the circle, the sunshine disappeared.

44 45 The Scarlet Letter A walk-in the forest

They walked on. Then Hester saw someonecoming and one friend - or even an enemy - whom I could talk to openly said,'Go and play by the river, child, and leaveme to soeak crrchday, then perhaps it would save me. But now it is all lies, to the gentleman who is coming., rrll emptiness,all death!' ''Who 'You is it?'saidPearl. Hester Prynne looked into his face. have the friend 'Can't .It you see?'saidHester. is the priest.' that you wish for; someone to cry with you over your sin. You 'And he hashis hand over his heart!,said pearl. Irave me, your partner in sin.' She hesitated, then went on, 'Go 'And now, child, but not too far beyondthe river.' you have an enemy, and you live with him in the same When Pearlhad gone,Hester waited under the trees.The lrouse.' priest walked slowly, but he had almostgone by beforeHesrer The priest jumped up and put his hand over his heart. could '\What 'In find her voice. are you saying? An enemy!' he cried. the same 'Arthur Dimmesdale!,she said, quietly at firsr,then louder. house?'What do you mean?' 'Arthur 'Oh, 'Forgive Dimmesdale!' Arthur!' she cried. me! In all things except "il7ho speaks?'he said, turning quickly. He saw a shadow one, I have been true to you. But I agreed to keep a secret.I under .Hester! the trees,and then he saw the scarletletter. did it to saveyour position, Arthur, your work as a priest, here HesterPrynne! Is it you?, in the town. But I cannot keep the secret any more. I must tell 'It is me,' sheanswered. you. The doctor - the old man they call Roger Chillingworth He touched her hand,and his touch was ascold asdeath. - he was my husband!' They movedback into the shadowsof the treesand sat down The priest stared at her for a moment - a black, violent look on a fallen branch.At first they spokeof the weather,the grey on his face. Then he dropped down on to his knees and buried sky,the comingstorm, but then the priestlooked into Hester,s his face in his hands. eyes. ''S7hy 'Or didn't I guessit?' he said quietly. perhaps I did! 'Have you found peace?'hesaid. The horror in my heart when I first saw him, and when I see She ,Have smiledsadly, and looked down at her bosom. him now . . . \7hy didn't I understand? Oh, Hester Prynne, you?'she asked. you don't know the horror and shame this news brings me! 'None! .But Nothing but misery!,he answered. what else He has been secretly laughing at my sick and guilty heart. could I expect?You wear your scarletletter openly, on your \(/oman, I cannot forgive you for this!' bosom, 'You 'Let Hester.Mine burnsin secret!It is good, after these will forgive me!' cried Hester. God punish me! sevenyears' to talk to someonewho knows the truth. If I had You shall forqive mel'

47 The Scarlet Letter A walk in the forest

'\ilill you forgive me, Arthur?' she repeated, again and 'Don't again. hate me! Forgive me, please!' 'I forgive you, Hester,' the priest replied at last. His voice 'May -We was sad, but not angry. God forgive us both! are not the worst sinners in the world. That old man's revengehas been blacker than our sin, Hester!' 'Yes!' ''We she whispered. loved one another, we told each other. Have you forgotten it?' 'Shh! Hester,'said Arthur Dimmesdale, getting up from the 'No, ground. I have not forgotten!' They sat down on the tree branch, holding each other's hands. Around them, the trees were dark, and the branches moved noisily in the wind. 'What will Roger Chillingworth do now?' asked the priest. ''Will he continue to keep our secret?' 'He has a secretnature, and I think he will,' said Hester. 'But he will doubtless find other ways to take his revenge.' 'And me! How can I Iive in the same house, breathing the same air with this deadly enemy?' said Mr Dimmesdale, his 'Think hand over his heart again. for me, Hester! You are 'Woman, I cannotforgiue you for this!'said the priest. strong! Tell me what to do!' 'You must not stay with this evil man,'said Hester. Shefell 'But to her kneesbeside him, put her arms around him, where can I go? I cannot hide from God,'he said. and pulled 'God 'if his headagainsr her bosom,nor caringthat his face will show mercy,' replied Hester, you are strong restedon rhe scarlerletter. She could not allow him to hate enough to take advantage of it.' 'For her. 'Be 'Advise sevenlong years,all the world hasblamed and hated strong for me!'he answered. me what to do.' me,' she 'But 'Is thought. I shalldie if this weak, sinful, unhappy the world so small, then?' said Hester, looking into his man hates 'Is me too.' eyes. there nothing beyond this little town?'!7alk a few

48 49 The ScarletLetter

miles from here, and the yellow leaveswill show no sign of a white man'sfeet. There you can be free!A shortjourney will take you from a world whereyou havebeen miserable, to one whereyou may still be happy!Then thereis the sea.It brought Hope for the future you here, and if you choose,it can take you back again. Perhapsto London, or to Germany, or France,or pleasant Italy. You'll be beyondRoger Chillingworth rhere., 'I ,I can't do it!' answeredthe priest. cannotwalk away and rthur Dimmesdale stared at Hester, with hope, joy and leavemy work. Although my own soul is lost, I must do what fear in his face. In his heart, he had thought of this too, but I can for the other human soulsin my care., only Hester had been brave enough to put it into words. 'After sevenyears of misery, you must leaveit all behind Suddenly,he knew that he wanted this better life that she ,Begin you!' said Hester,with passionin her voice. again. described;and knew also that he could not live without her. There is happinessto be enjoyed,there is good to be done. 'God, will you forgiveme?'he thought. Change this false life for a rrue one! Teach, write! Nfork 'You will go,' saidHester, calmly, as he looked at her. among the Indians! Do anything, except lie down and diel And so it was decided. At once, a strange feeling of Why wait anorherday in this place?Go now!, happinesscame over him; somethingwhich he had thought 'Oh, ,I Hester!'cried Arthur Dimmesdale. am not strong was deadin him. 'This enough,nor braveenough, to go out into the wide, strange, 'Oh, Hester, God has been merciful!' he cried. is 'S7hy difficult world alone.' afteadya better life. did we not find it sooner?' 'The Sadly,hopelessly, he repeatedthe word. 'Let us not look back,' sheanswered. past is gone! 'Alone, Hester!' Look!' And shepulled the scarletletter from her bosom and 'You shall not go alone,'she answered, her voicea deep threw it in among the trees. 'I whisper. Shebreathed deeply. did not realizehow heavy it was until I was freeof it!' shethought. Next, shepulled off her hat, and her hair fell down upon her shoulders,dark and rich, softeningher face as it did so. Shesmiled, and her eyeswere bright. Suddenly,she was young and beautifulagain, and filled with happiness!

50 51 The Scarlet Letter Hope for the fwture

Another thought cameinro her headand shelooked at him is a friend of mine, who will soon be a friend of yours also.You 'You and smiled. must learnto know pearl!' shesaid. ,Our will havetwice as much love' from today. Now, hurry up!' little Pearl.You haveseen her - yes,I know you have- but Pearl did not move. Shelooked first at her mother, with you will seeher now with fresh eyes.She is strange, and wild bright eyes,then at the priest. Then sheput out a hand difficult to understand,but you will love her, and adviseme and pointedat her mother'sbosom. '\fhy what to do with her.' 'You strangechildl' saidHester. don't you cometo 'Do you think the child will be glad to know me?'askedthe me?Hurry, or I shallbe angrywith you.' 'Children priest,looking worried. do not usuallylike me. and The child began to scream' still pointing her finger I have evenbeen afrardof little pearl., accusinglyat her mother'sbosom. 'That 'But 'I 'She is sad,'saidHester. shewill loveyou. Let me call know what is wrong,' Hesterwhispered to the priest. her. Pearl!Pearl!' is missingsomething that shehas always seen me wearing.' 'If The child heardher mother,svoice. She had beenpicking you can quietenher, pleasedo!' saidMr Dimmesdale' 'Pearl,'she flowersand had put them in her hair and her clothes,but now Hester,her facepale again, turned to the child. 'look shecame slowly throughthe trees,to the other sideof the little saidsadly, down besideyour feet.There! The other side river. Very slowly- becauseshe saw the priest. of the river.' They watchedher coming. The child looked round and saw the scarletletter lying at 'How strangelybeautiful she looks with thoseflowers in her the edgeof the water. 'She 'Bring hair,' saidHester. is a wonderful child! But I know whose it to me,' saidHester. foreheadshe has!' 'Come and fetchit!' answeredPearl. 'It 'The is a terriblething to say,but I haveoften been afraid that child is right aboutthe letter,of course,'Hester said 'I otherswould seea likenessto me in her face,and guess,,said to the priest. must wear it for a few more days,until we have 'But Mr Dimmesdale. shelooks much more like you., left. The forestcannot hide it, but the seawill drown it.' 'Do not let her seeanything strange,' said Hester. ,Do not She steppedforward and, picking up the scarlet letter, be too excited,or too loving. Shewill nor undersrand.But she fastenedit to her bosom again.Next, she put up her hair will love you in time.' again, underneath her hat. A grey shadow seemedto fall Pearlhad stoppedon the other sideof the warer and was acrossher asshe did thesethings. She put out a hand to Pearl' '\0ill looking at Hesrerand the priest. 'Do you recognizeyour mother now, child?'she said. 'Come, ,How dearchild!'called Hester. slowyou are!Here you cometo me now?'

52 53 The ScarletLetter Hope for tbe fwture

'Yes. now I will.' answered the child, and jumped acrossthe 'Now water. you are my mother, and I am your little Pearl!' Gently, she pulled down her mother's head and kissed her' Then she kissed the scarlet letter' too. 'You 'That was not kind!' said Hester. show me a little love, but then you make a joke of it!' ''S7hy is the priest sitting over there?' asked Pearl' 'He 'He is waiting to welcome you,' said Hester. loves you, -Will my Iittle Pearl, and he loves your mother, too. Come! you not love him?' 'Does he love us?' said Pearl, looking closely at her mother's ''$7ill face. he go back with us, hand in hand, the three of us together, into the town?' 'But 'Not now, dear child,' said Hester. soon he will walk 'We hand in hand with us. will have a home of our own, and you will sit on his knee and he will teach you many things, and love you dearly. You will love him - won't you?' 'And will he always keep his hand over his heart?' asked Pearl. 'S7hat 'Silly child! kind of question is that?' said Hester' 'Come, and be nice to him.' But Pearl made an ugly face and tried to pull away from her mother. And when Mr Dimmesdale kissed her gently on the forehead, she ran down to the river and washed her face, again and again, until the unwelcome kiss was washed away' Then she watched silently as her mother and the priest talked life together' The child quietly, making arrangements for their new beganto scream,pointing her finger at her mother'sbosom. The plan was soon made. It was decided between them that The Scarlet Letter Hope for the future

the Old I7orld, with its crowds and cides, would offer them He was glad to reachhis house,and hurried upstairsto his a better chanceof living quietly and privately. And luckily, study.Here were his books, the window, the fireplace.Here, Hesterknew of a ship which had recently arrivedfrom Spain he had written and studied and prayed. There on the table, and would soon leaveagain to sail to Bristol, in England. with his pen besideit, was the half-finishedElection 'I ,and Sermon, know the captain,'she said, I can secretlyarrange which he had left behindtwo daysago. Now, he saw all these pearl for you, me and little to sail with him to England., '\7hen things differently, through the eyesof another man - a wiser doesthe shipleave?, asked Mr Dimmesdale. 'Probably man, who had returned out of the forest. four days from today,, replied Hester. At that moment,there was a knock at his door. 'Comein!' criedMr Dimmesdale,wondering if a devil would enter.Then As he hurried back r. rnJr"r,"lr, tJurrt.,gHester pearl and to old RogerChillingworth camein, and the prieststood, unable return to their cotage, Mr Dimmesdalethought about the 'Four to speak,with his hand over his heart. plan. days' time is just right. Three days '\Telcome from today I home,sir,' saidthe doctor, smiling.'How was have to give my Election Sermon,and it will be a most suitable your journeythrough the forest?You look pale!I think you way to end my time here as a priest. At least they will not be will need my help if you are going to be able to give your ableto sayrhar I left without doing my job until the very end!, ElectionSermon in a day or two. Don't you think so?' He becamemore and more excitedas he made his way back 'No - not at aIl,'repliedMr Dimmesdale.'The long walk into the town. In this new, happier mood, everything looked in the fresh air hasbeen good for me, after spendingso much and seemeddifferent, even the peoplehe met or passedin the ,I time in my study. Thank you, but I do not think I needany street.He wantedto sayto them, am not the man you think more of your medicine,my kind doctor.' I am! I left him behind in the forest!, Did Roger Chillingworth know, the priest wondered,that Then he passedMistress Hibbins, the Governor,s sister. he had met and talked with HesterPrynne? Did he know that who, unusually,stopped to speakto him. priest's 'So, ,you in the eyeshe was now a hatedenemy? Perhaps the Mr Dimmesdale,,she said, havebeen walking in friendly words from the doctor to his patientnow had double the forest! You must tell me next time you plan to go. I will meanrngs. comewith you, and we can meetour Master.,And shepassed 'But, my dearsir, we must do whateverwe canto makeyou on by, giving the priest a secretlittle smile. 'The 'X7hy strongand well,' saidChillingworth. peopleexpect great doesshe talk to me like this?,he thought nervously. 'Does things from you, and are afraid that in anotheryear you may shesee rhe blackmark of the Devil in my soul?, be gone.' The ScarletLetter

'Yes, goneto anotherworld,' repliedthe priest,sadly. ,And may God make it a betterone, becauseI don't expectto be with my peoplefor anotheryear. But, thank you, sir, I do not needyour medicineat the moment.' Escape 'I am glad to hearit,'said Chillingworth. 'I thank you from my heart,mosr warchful friend,' saidthe 'I priest. can only repayyour kindnesswith my prayers., 'A good man's prayers are like gold!' answeredRoger n the morning of Election Day, when the townspeople Chillingworth, as he went out of the room. came together to meet their newly electedGovernor, Hester After he had gone, Mr Dimmesdalethrew away his half- Prynne came into the market-place in her usual dress of grey written Election Sermonand sat down to beginit again.All cloth, with the scarlet letter on her bosom. The quiet, sad look through that - night he wrote and the words seemedto come on her face hid the excitement deep inside her. \7ho in the from God. crowd could guessher thoughts that day? Look- {or the last time at tbe scarlet letter and its wearer! ln a little while I will be beyond yowr reach! I will be free, and the scarlet letter of sbame, which has burned on my bosom for seuen long years, will lie for euer at the bottom of the sea! Little Pearl, sensitiveto her mother's excitement without knowing the reason for it, was dancing along at Hester's side, singing or giving huppy little shouts. ''!7hy are the people not working today, Mother?' she 'And asked, when she saw the crowd in the market-place. look how many strangers there are here today - Indians and sailors 'Sfhat among them. is everyone waiting for?' 'They are waiting to see the new Governor go past,' 'And answered Hester. the magistrates and the priests, and all the great and good people, with the soldiers marching in front 'A good man's prayers are like gold!' said RogerChilLingworth. of them to the music.'

58 The ScarletLetter Escape

'IJfill pearl. ,\fill Mr Dimmesdale be there?' asked he hold doctor - we need not fear ship-fever on this voyage!' ''What 'You out both his hands to me, as he did that day in the forest?, do you mean?' said Hester, alarmed. have 'He 'But will be there, child,' said Hester. he will not speak another passenger?' 'Didn't to you today, and you must not speak to him.' you know that this doctor - Chillingworth, he calls 'What ,He a srrange, sad man he is,' said the child. held himself - has decided to travel with you?' said the captain. 'Oh, your hand and mine at night on the scaffold, and again in the but you must know! He told me he's a good friend of the forest. But here on this sunny day, among all the people, he gentleman you spoke about.' 'They does not know us, and we must not speak to him. \fhat a - they know each other well,' agreed Hester, trying 'They strange, sad man, with his hand always over his heart.' desperatelyto look calm. live in the same house.' 'Be 'You quiet, Pearl!' said Hester. don't understand these No more words were spoken between them, but at that things. Don't think about the priest. Look around, and see moment she saw old Roger Chillingworth, standing in a far how happy everyone is roday, on this holiday., corner of the market-place. He was smiling at her - a smile And it was true. Most people were smiling, arid there was which, even across the wide and busy square, carried secret a lot of talk and laughter. The sailors from the Spanishship, and fearful meaning. with their sun-burnt faces and long beards, were noisier than Before she could think clearly again, there was the sound most. They shouted and laughed, and drank wine from of music, and a moment later she saw the band coming, bottles. Sailors in those days obeyed only the laws of the sea, followed by soldiers. Little Pearl laughed and jumped up and and were allowed to do much as they liked on land. Even the down excitedly. Next came the magistrates, and then the Puritanssmiled at their noisy ways. priests. Mr Dimmesdale was among them, but although his So it was no surprise to anyone to seea respectableman like feet marched with the music, it is doubtful whether he actually old Roger Chillingworrh come into the market-place, heard it, as he seemed to be deep in thought. speaking with the captain of the ship. Hester watched him, and her heart was heavy. \7as this the Moments later, when the two men went their separate same man who had sat with her in the forest, holding her prynne. ways, the captain walked acrossto Hester As usual, hand? He Iooked so different now, walking proudly, with his people avoided standing near her, which meant that she and head held high, and without a single look at her. 'It 'There the captain could talk privately. was a dream,' she thought. can be no real love 'So, 'another mistress,' said the captain, one to join you! between us. How can there be?A man in his position.' And with two doctors- our own ship's doctor and this other Pearl noticed the sadnesswhich had suddenly come over

61 Tbe ScarletLetter Escape

seemed?Did she really dance in the forest with the Evil One, the Devil himself? 'Come, come, Hester! The Dark One knows those who have signed their names in his book!'And laughing craztly, Mistress Hibbins walked on. By this time, the first prayers had been said in the church meeting-house, and Hester could hear Mr Dimmesdale beginning his sermon. She stood close to the scaffold platform where she could hear most of his words. His voice was strong and clear and sweet. Sometimes he Chillingworth's smile carried secretand fearful meantng. spoke quietly, and at other times with great passion. But Hester, who knew the guilt and misery in his heart, could hear her mother, and becameworried and uncomfortable.\7hen in his voice a cry of pain. A cry from the very soul of the man! the priestshad goneby, shelooked into her mother'sface and She listened, unable to move from the scaffold, that place of 'Is said, that the samepriest who kissedme in the forest?' public shame which she knew so well. 'Be ,'We quiet, little Pearl!'whisperedher mother. must not Little Pearl, meanwhile, had moved away and was playing 'l7henever talk in the market-placeabout the thingsthat happenro us in and dancing about in the market-place. she saw the forest!' something which interestedher, she ran acrossto it. She ran Then she heard her name spoken, and turned to see to stare at a group of Indians, then ran into the centre of a MistressHibbins behindher. group of sailors, who laughed and tried to join in her game, 'Now, who would believeit?' the old lady whisperedto but she would not let them. 'Look Hester. at our priest,Mr Dimmesdale!He looks so The captain tried to kiss her, but she danced away. Then godly today! And only a little while sincehe went from his he called to her. study to walk in the forest! Ahl And we know what that 'Your mother is the woman with the scarlet letter, isn't ''Sfill means,Hester Prynne! Can you be sure,Hester, that he is the she?' he said. you give her a message?Tell her that I sameman that you met amongthe trees?' the old doctor, and he will bring the other (Mistress spoke with Hibbins, I don't know what you are talking gentleman to the ship with him. She need only take herself and 'S7as 'Sfill about,' said Hester. the old woman as mad as she you. you tell her that?'

62 63 The ScarletLetter Escape

Pearl ran through the crowd to her mother, and repeated How weak and pale he looked,suddenly! Where was the the captain's words. Hester listened with a growing misery. proud man who had marchedto the churchearlier; the man The plan for herself and the priest now seemedhopeless. who had spokenwith suchpassion in the meeting-house?His And even as she suffered this great disappointment, a crowd face was the face of a man alreadyhalf-dead. was coming together around Hester, mostly people from the One of the other priests,old Mr \filson, steppedforward ,the countryside who had heard about but not seen woman to offer his help, but Mr Dimmesdalewaved him away. They with the scarlet letter' and wanted to stare at her. The Indians. were near the scaffold now, and there stood Hester Prynne, too, came to look. holding little Pearl'shand. And therewas the scarletletter on And while Hester stood in the centre of that circle of shame, her bosom.Arthur Dimmesdalestopped, unable to go on. Mr Arthur Dimmesdale stood in the church and received the And then he turned to the scaffold and held out his arms. 'Hester,'he love and respectof all who listened to him. said,'comehere! Come, my littlePearl!' 'When he finished his sermon, there was silence inside the His facehad the look of a man, both sadand yoyful,who meeting-house.A minute later, the crowd beganto leave the has finally won a battle inside himself. church, all talking at once. How beautifully their good Mr The child ran to him and threw her arms around his knees. 'Vfhat Dimmesdale had spoken, they said! a wise and godly HesterPrynne, moving slowly like a woman in a dream,also man he was! came near, but paused before she reachedhim. At that There was a sadnesstoo, not in the words themselvesbut moment,Roger Chillingworth pushedthrough the crowd and in the way he spoke them. A sadnessof someone who is about caughthold of the priest'sarm. 'Stop!' 'What to die. Yes, their priest, whom they loved, and who loved he whisperedto Mr Dimmesdale. are you them, had the sound of a man who would not be in this world doing?Wave back that woman! Pushaway that child! All will for much longer. be well. Do not do this! I can still saveyou!' 'You 'With And Mr Dimmesdale? It was his proudesr moment. aretoo late!' answeredthe priest. God'shelp, Now the band began to play again, and the soldiers got I shallescape you now!'He put out his hand to Hester. 'Hester ready to lead everyonero the town hall. The people stepped Prynne!God hasmade me strongenough, at this back to make room for the Governor, the magistrates, the last moment,to do the thing that I failedto do sevenyears ago. officers of the town, and the priests. They shouted and waved, Come now, and be strong with me. Come and standwith me but the noise began to die away as the crowd saw rheir young on the scaffold!' priest, Mr Dimmesdale. There was great excitementin the crowd, but the priests The Scarlet Letter Escape

and magistrates could not believe what they were seeing, and And he pulled open his shirt for them to seehis chest! they remained silent. They saw the young priest with Hester's Cries of horror came from the crowd. For a moment, the arm around him, and his hand holding little pearl's hand. The priest stood proudly - a man who has won a battle over his three of them climbed the steps of the scaffold, and were own pain and fear. Then he fell to the ground. followed by old Roger Chillingworth. Hester lifted him, and held his head against her bosom. 'Is this the only place that you could find to escape from me?' whispered Chillingworth.'The scaffold!' 'It ,and is God who led me here!' said Mr Dimmesdale, I thank Him for it.'But he trembled as he turned ro Hester. ,Is this not better than what we planned in the forest?' 'I ,Better? don't know!' she replied hurriedly. \fe may both die, and little Pearl may die with us!, 'God will decide, but He is merciful,' said the priest. .Let me do now whar God has told me to do. I am a dying man, Hester. Let me accept my shame before I die., He turned and looked down at the crowd. 'People ,you of New England!' he cried. who have loved me! Look at me now, as I stand here with this woman. For sevenlong years you have called her a sinner and hated her. You have seen the scarlet letter on her bosom, and have crossedthe street to avoid her. But there has been someone living among you whose sin and shame you have not known!' He stepped forward, away from Hester and the child. ,God knew him! The Devil knew him! And now, at the hour of his death, you shall know him! He stands in front of youl Look 'With again at Hester's scarlet letter. all its mysterious horror, it is only a shadow of what is on my own bosom! Look! Lookl Seefor yourselves!' Hester Liftedhim, and held his head againsther bosom.

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Chillingworth knelt down besidehim, an empry,dull look on his face. f0 'You haveescaped me!, Chillingworth repeated again and 'You again. haveescaped me!, HesterPrynne's sadness 'May God forgiveyou,' rheyoung priest saidto him. .you, too, havesinned deeply., He turned his dying eyestowards 'My Hesterand the child. littre pearl!'he said,his voicealmost a whisper.'Will you kissme now?' fter many days, when there had been time for people to Pearl kissedhim, and her rearsfell on her father,sface. arrange their thoughts, there was more than one report about 'Hester!' ,Goodbye!' saidthe priest. what had been seenon the scaffold. '\(/on't we meetagain?, she whispered, her faceclose to his. Most watching a letter, 'Won't of those said that they saw scarlet we meetin heaven,and be togetherfor ever?, like Hester Prynne's, on the priest's chest.But how long had 'Hester, ,But Hester, I don't know,' he said. God is it been there?There were various explanations, all of which merciful! He hasproved his mercy.He gaveme rhis burning were no more than guesses.Some said that Mr Dimmesdale pain to sufferon my bosom!He sentme that dark and terrible had burned the letter into his chest on the same day that old man, to keepthe pain alwaysred-hot! He hasbrought me Hester Prynne received ber scarlet letter. Others said that old here,to die a deathof shame,in front of the people!Without Roger Chillingworth had causedit to appear, by some devilish all this, I would be lost for ever!For this I thank Him. I thank magic. And others said it was a terrible sign of a guilty heart, God!Goodbye. . .!' and of God's punishment. The reader may choose from these The final word camewith the priest's dying breath. possible explanations. However, there were some who were watching who said that there was no mark- at all on Mr Dimmesdale's chest. Neither, they said, had his dying words accepted any part of, or responsibility for, Hester Prynne's shame. The priest, they said, by choosing to die in the arms of that sinful woman, was simply trying to teach his people that even the most godly of them were all sinners in the eyesof God. But nothing was more extraordinary than the way old

68 69 The ScarletLetter H ester Prynne's sddness

Roger Chillingworth changed after Mr Dimmesdale's death. This unhappy man grew weaker every day. Revengehad been his food and drink, and without it, his life had no meaning. Before the end of a year, he was dead. But he left all his money - rogether with land and houses in England - to little Pearl, the daughter of Hester prynne. So Pearl became the richest person of those days in New England. This, of course, changed the way people behaved towards Hester and her daughter. Many families, thinking about the future, now saw Pearl, not as a child of sin. but as a most suitable wife for one of their sons! But soon after Chillingworth died, Hester and Pearl disappeared, and for many years no one knew where they had gone. People told the story of the scarlet letter to their children, and their children's children. The scaffold where the poor priest died remained, and was as strong a warning of shame as tt ever was. And then, one afternoon, some children were playing near Hester's old cottage when they saw a tall woman in a grey dress go up to the door. In all those years it had never once been opened, but she seemedto unlock it before going inside. She turned in the doorw ay and looked back - long enough for HesterPrynne bad returned! those watching to seethe scarlet letter on her bosom. Hester Prynne had returned! which Hester neverused, but which spokeof somebody's But where was little Pearl, now a young woman? \J7asshe loving thoughtstowards her. And once,someone saw Hester alive or dead? No one knew, nor did they ever find out. But decoratinga baby'sdress with the richestof gold thread. for the remainder of Hester's life, she received letters from All thesethings led peopleto believethat Pearlwas not only England. And in rhe cottage were beautiful, expensive things alive but alsomarried and happy. And that shedid not forget

71 The ScarletLetter

her mother and always kept her home in England open for GLO SSARY her, if Hester should everwanr rt. But HesterPrynne's life was in New England.Here shehad adultery sex betweena married person and someonewho is not sinned, and here she would end her life. She had returned their husband or wife willingly, and once againput on her scarletletter. balcony a platform built on the upstairsoutside wall of a building bosom a woman's chest,or the part of her clothing that coversit Never again did it leaveher bosom.However, in the years cheek either side of the face below the eyes that followed, it becamea sign not of shamebut of sadness. cottage a small, simple house,usually in the country It reminded others that here was a woman who had done devil a bad, evil person (the Devil is the enemyof God) wrong, but who had been punished enough. And people, election a time when peoplevote to choosea new government especially women, cameto her for advice,for her wisewords, evil very bad; harmful for comfort in their timesof trouble and miseryand suffering. forehead the part of the face abovethe eyes rWhen she died, a new grave was dug next to an old one, forgive to stop feeling angry with someonewho has done you but there was only one gravestonefor the two graves.It was somethingto harm or annoy - godly living a good life that follows the laws of your religion a simple srone you may still seeit there today -and on it was just Governor a personwho controls part of a country one letter; a letter that had beenscarlet, a letter that both gr^ve a hole in the ground where a dead personis buried beganthis sad story, and brought it to an end. gravestone a stoneon a graveshowing the buried person'sname graveyard a pieceof land near a church where peopleare buried guilty having done somethingthat is againstthe law heaven the placewhere God is believedto live Indians,/ Red Indians the original peoplein America beforethe white man came(used in Hawthorne's time, bwt not acceptable today; p eoplenow use'N atiue American' or' American Indian') innocent having done nothing wrong joy a very happy feeling magic making strangeor mysteriousthings happen,which cannot easilybe explained magistrate a personwho works as a judge in a court of law Master (old-fashioned) a polite word for an important man

73 Glossary

medical of or about medicineor docors mercy The ScarletLetter being kind and forgiving to somebodywho has done wrong (adjmerciful) meteor a pieceof rock from ourer spacethat burns brightly ACTIVITIES when it hits the Earth's air Mistress (old-fashioned) a polite word for a married woman mood the way you are feelingat a particular time needle a small thin pieceof metal that you usefor sewing nervous afraid, not confident pale with little colour in the face partner somebodyyou work with or have a relationshipwith passion a very strongfeeling (of love,hate, anger,enthusiasm, etc.) pray to senda message,silent or spoken,to God priest an official at a church public (adj) able to be seenor known by everybody Puritans a group of christians in the 16th and lTthcenturies who believed in living a simplelife with hard work and little fun religion a belief in a god or gods, and the different ways of showing the belief (adj religious) respect(u) to have a very good opinion of someone scaffold a high platform where criminals are killed in public sermon a talk on a religioussubject, given by a pnesr shame feelings of guilt when you have done somethingwrong or sinful; or the loss of respectcaused by wrongdoing or sin sin a very bad thing that your religion saysyou should nor do soul the part of us that somepeople believedoes not die suffer to feel pain or great sadness thread a long, thin pieceof cotton, usedwith a needlefor sewing wise sensibleand experienced;showing good judgement witch a woman who usesmagic to do evil things wrong (u) to behavebadly or in an unfair way to someone

74 ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES

BeforeReading While Reading

Read the story introducrion on the first page of the book, and Read Chapters 1 and 2. Choose the best question-word for these the back cover. Which of these ideas would you agreewith, and questions and then answer them. *I* purirans do you think the of New England would ag.". wrtni Who l'What

1 Adultery is a terrible sin which must be punished. 1 . . . was in the old wooden box with the papers? 2 Adultery means a marriage has broken down and so it is 2 . . . punishments did the women suggestfor Hester? best for everyone to finish rhe marriage. 3 . . . could the magistrates send to the scaffold? 3 It is more important to forgive than to punish. 4 . . . was Hester's punishment for her sin? 4 You should be kind to somebody who has sinned, and help 5 . . . had probably died before reaching Massachusetts? them to be good again. 6 . . . name did Hester refuse to give to the priest? 5 You musr never tell a lie. 7 . . . did the prison officer bring to seeHester? 6 If telling the truth will hurt anorher person, you should 8 . . . was Hester afraid that Roger would do to her and her stay silent. child? 7 A child of adultery is a bad child, and musr stay away from 9 . . . did Roger want to find? other children. 10 . . . did Roger want to do to this person? 1,1,. . . did Roger ask Hester to do? Can you guesswhat happens to thesepeople in the story? Choose as many answers as you like. Before you read Chapter 3, can you guesswhat difficulties Flester will face?For each sentence,circle Y (Yes) or N (No). Hester Hester'schild Hester'slouer Hester'shusband tries to kill her. Y/N l...hasalonglife. 1 Someone 5 . . . is punished for past sins. 2 The Puritans want to take her child away from her. Y/N 2...hasashortlife. 6 . . . becomesa strongerperson. 3 The women try to make her leave town. Y/N 3...goestoprison. T...leavesBoston. 4 People try to stop her getting any work. Y/N 4...findshappiness. 8...forgivesasinner. 5 Nobody in the shops will sell her any food. Y/N

76 77 -W AcrtvtrtEs: W bile Reading ACTwITIES: hile Reading

Read Chapters 3 to 5. Are these sentencestrue (T) or false (F)? Read Chapters 6 to 8. Then match these halves of sentences. Rewrite the false ones with the correct information. 1 Hester had the respectof many people now . . . 1 People gave Hester a lot of work becausethey felt sorry for 2 Roger had changed from a kind person into an evil one . ' . her. 3 Hester wanted Roger to forgive her and Arthur and become 2 People wanted to take pearl away from Hester and send her a wise, kind man again . . . to England. 4 Arthur thought life was easierfor Hester . . ' 3 Arthur thought that pearl should stay with her mother. 5 Hester advised Arthur to leave Boston . . . 4 As time passed,some people began to think that Roger 6 Arthur was worried about getting to know Pearl ' . . Chillingworth was senr by the Devil, not by God. 7 Pearl did not want to go to her mother ' . . 5 Arthur Dimmesdale often talked about the sicknessof his 8 Hester and Arthur decided to return to England . . . soul, but Chillingworth refused to listen. 9 . . . but Roger thought it was too late for that now. 6 Vhen Arthur told people that he was a hateful sinner, they 10 . . . until she had put the scarlet letter back on her bosom. believed him and talked about gertrng a new priest. everyone knew about her sin. 'J7hen 1,1,. . . because 7 Arthur saw Hesrer and pearl, he asked them to go 12 . . . becauseshe worked hard and lived a godly life. away and leave him alone on the scaffold. 13 . . . becausechildren did not usually like him. 8 Arthur was able to stand on the scaffold at night, but he 14 . . . since there they could live a quiet life more easily. was too afraid of public shame to do it in the daylighi. 15 . . . after he had spent sevenyears geffing a cruel revenge. begin a h"ppy life somewhere else. Before you t6 . . . so that he could read Chapter 6, what advice would you give Hester now? Choose some of theseideas. Before you read the last chapters,try to guesswhat happens on 1 You Choose some of these ideas, and then choose should tell Roger that you will tell everyone his secret Election Day. unlesshe leavesArthur alone. names to complete those sentences. 2 You should tell Arthur to tell the world his secret. ! Hester I Arthur I Pearl I Roger will leave Boston on the ship. 3 You should tell Arthur to leave Bostbn. 2 Roger I'Arthur will tell everyone who Pearl's father is' 4 You should leave Boston and make a new life somewhere 3 Hester I Artbur will kill Roger. else. 4 Hester I Arthwr I Pearl will stand on the scaffold together. 5 You should tell Arthur the truth about Roger. 5 Arthur I Roger will die.

78 79 AcrtvtrtEs: After Reading

1 ACTIVITIES J I didn't have the right to tell you other people's secrets. + Your father and my husband both had secrets'and children After Reading can't keep secrets. If you didn't know, other people couldn't find things out When Hester and Pearl sailed back to England, what did Hester from you. tell Pearl abour her life with Roger and Arthur? complere their I had wronged my husband, and I didn't want your father conversation (use as many words as you like). to go to prison, or die, so I had to keep their secretsfrom Ptenr: Mother, why didn,t your husband come with you to everybody. That meant you as well. Boston? HEsrpn: Here are some quotes from the story. What do they tell us about the speakers,or other charactersin the story? PrRnr: And how did you get to know my father? Hrsrrn : 'Heaven has allowed you public shame, and the chance to Prenr: But how could you fall in love with him? you already win an open battle with the evil inside you and the sadness had a husband, - so it was a sin breaking God's law. outside. Do you refuse to give him [the child's father] that HEsrEn: same chance- which he may be too afraid to take himself ?' PreRl: Two years!That's a long time. And when he suddenly (Arthur,page 10) appeared again, how did you feel? 'It is not for some magistrate to take off this letter. \7hen - HEsrEn: if ever - I earn the right to be rid of it, it will fall off PrenL: But why didn't he accusemy father in public? without anyone's heIp.' (Hester, page 40) HpsrEn: 'You planted the evil, and now its black flowers are growing. 'S7hy PtenL: How horrible! didn't you tell me all this before. \7e cannot changethe way things are.' (Roger, page 43) when my father was alive? 'That old man's revengehas been blacker than our sin, Hester!' (Arthwr, page 49) Pearl's last question in the activity above is an interesting one. 'What a strange, sad man he is. He held your hand and Here are some possible answers.Choose the one you think best mine at night on the scaffold, and again in the forest. But and explain why you prefer it. here on this sunny day, among all the people, he does not 1 You were too young to understand. know us, and we must not speak to him.' (Pearl, page 60) 2 It was better for you not to know.

80 81 ACrwtrtES:After Reading ACTwITIES: After Reading

Look at thesewords from the story. Which heading would you 10 whether I thathe was as great a sinner as Hester Prynne. put them under? Can some words go under more than one 1L and tben I now thathe died in MistressPrynne's arms. heading? Is there any word which does not belong under any 12 and I or called out to Mistress Prynne and her little girl. heading? 1.3 Meanwhile,l Finally, he pulled open his shirt for us FEELINGSI 1,4 The old doctor hurried up to him and caught his arm, cloth magrstrate pattern revenge 15 he thanked God for his mercy, godly material prlest sermon 16 who I which means, of course, that he is the father of guilty mercy prison shame Flester Prynne's child! heaven mrsery punishment sin lnnocent needle Puritan soul 6 Imagine that you could give the story a different ending. Choose loy Passron respect thread one of the endings below, and use the notes to write aparagtaph. Which ending - including the original one - do you prefer, and This is how one of the townspeople described Arthur why? Dimmesdale's last moments. Put the parts of sentencesin the . Arthur confesseson scaffold/ doesnot die / sailsto England right order, and foin them with the best linking word from each pair. Begin with number 4. with Hester and Pearl ('!fhat happensto Roger?) . Arthur doesnot confess/ leaveswith Hester and Pearlfor 1 He stood there in front of the crowd and cried out new life somewherein America (DoesRoger stay or go?) 2 after I buthe pushedthe doctor away . Arthur doesnot confess/ Roger tells Arthur's secret/ Arthur 3 if I becausealmosr at once the priest fell to the ground. goesto prison / Hester and Pearl go on living in Boston 4 Yes, I was there, quite close to Mr Dimmesdale . Arthur confesses/ goesto prison / Hester sent back to Roger / 5 yet / and climbed up onro the scaffold with Mistress prynne dies mysti:riously(\Vhat happensto Pearl?) and the child. 'Wbateuer, 6 Howeuer,l the poor child did not have a father 7 If you could choose a different letter for Hester to wear, which for very long, word would it be for - S for sinful, B for brave?Choose a letter 'A' 7 that I to seethe great, scarlet letter on his chest, for Flester, Roger, Arthur, and Pearl to wear' and explain why word says something important about that character. 8 While I After little Pearl had kissed him, that 9 tbough I when he stopped nexr ro the scaffold

82 83 ABOUT THE AUTHOR OXFORD BOOK\TORMS LIBRARY

Classics' Crime 6 Mystery' Factfiles' Fantasy(t Honor Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in Human lnterest ' Playscripts ' Thrillet (v Aduentwre 1804, 'Vy' into a family which had come to America with the first True Stories ' orld Stories Puritan settlers.'$fhile still a boy, Hawthorne wrote to his mother that'I do not want to be a doctor and live by men's diseases;nor The o>cono BooKwoRMsLIBRARY provides enioyablereading in English' with a minister ro live by their sinsl nor a lawyer and live by their a wide range of classicand modern fiction, non-fiction, and plays. It includes quarrels. original and adapted texts in sevencarefully graded languagestages, which So I don't seethere is anything left for me but to be an author.'After take learnersfrom beginner to advancedlevel. An overview is given on the college,Hawthorne returned to Salemand wrote stories, next pages. including some for children, and a novel, but he did not achievesuccess quickly. All Stage 1 titles are available as audio recordings, as well as over eighty other titles from Starter to Stage6. All Starters and many titles at Stages1 For a time he worked in the Boston custom house, and later to 4 are specially recommended for younger learners. Every Bookworm is in the port of Salem.In 1850he had his first big successwithTbe and Startersand Factfileshave full-colour illustrations. Scarlet illustrated, Letter, drawing on his knowledge of New England and Puritan LIBRARYalso offers extensive support. Each book life. The House of the SeuenGables (1g51)also dealt with The oxrono BooKrgoRMs problems contains an introduction to the story' notes about the author, a glossary, of guilt and sin. From 1g53 to rg57 Hawthorne was and American and activities. Additional resources include tests and worksheets, consul at Liverpool in England, and then spent two answersfor theseand for the activitiesin the books. There is adviceon years in Italy, the setting for his novel The Marble Faun (1g60). running a classlibrary, using audio recordings, and the many ways of using He then returned ro America, where he died in 1g64. Oxford Bookworms in reading programmes. Resource materials are Hawthorne is consideredone of the great American writers. availableon the website ' Questions of sin, crime, suffering, and guilt are never far away The Oxford Bookworms Collection is a series for advanced learners. It in his work, and his view of life is a dark one.The scarlet Letter consistsof volumes of short storiesby well-known authors' both classicand is still one of the most respectedworks of American literature. modern. Texts are not abridgedor adaptedin any way, but carefully selected It has been made into a play and a musical, and filmed eleven to be accessibleto the advancedstudent. times, though one film, made in the 1990s and starring Demi Moore, annoyed many Americans. This film version had an attack by Indians, naked swimming, and Arthur and Hester You can find details and a full list of titles in the Oxford Bookworms Library Englisb Language Teaching Catalogwes,and on the riding away together in a happy ending, which of course changes Catalogte and Oxford Hawthorne's story completely. website .

84 85 ,,ul ,EE ,o ii= OXFORD ENGTISH .:d ,,(f lsBN 978-0-19-4791 83-0 ,o,Q

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