The Scarlet Letter

Pearl, looking at this bright wonder of a house began to caper

and dance, and imperatively required that the whole breadth of

sunshine should be stripped off its front, and given her to play

with.

"No, my little Pearl!" said her mother; "thou must gather thine

own sunshine. I have none to give thee!"

They approached the door, which was of an arched form, and

flanked on each side by a narrow tower or projection of the

edifice, in both of which were lattice-windows, the wooden

shutters to close over them at need. Lifting the iron hammer

that hung at the portal, Hester Prynne gave a summons, which was

answered by one of the Governor's bond servant--a free-born

Englishman, but now a seven years' slave. During that term he

was to be the property of his master, and as much a commodity of

bargain and sale as an ox, or a joint-stool. The serf wore the

customary garb of serving-men at that period, and long before,

in the old hereditary halls of England.

"Is the worshipful Governor Bellingham within?" inquired Hester.

"Yea, forsooth," replied the bond-servant, staring with

wide-open eyes at the scarlet letter, which, being a new-comer

in the country, he had never before seen. "Yea, his honourable

worship is within. But he hath a godly minister or two with him,

and likewise a leech. Ye may not see his worship now."

"Nevertheless, I will enter," answered Hester Prynne; and the

bond-servant, perhaps judging from the decision of her air, and

the glittering symbol in her bosom, that she was a great lady in

the land, offered no opposition.

So the mother and little Pearl were admitted into the hall of

entrance. With many variations, suggested by the nature of his

building materials, diversity of climate, and a different mode

of social life, Governor Bellingham had planned his new

habitation after the residences of gentlemen of fair estate in

his native land. Here, then, was a wide and reasonably lofty

hall, extending through the whole depth of the house, and

forming a medium of general communication, more or less

directly, with all the other apartments. At one extremity, this

spacious room was lighted by the windows of the two towers,

which formed a small recess on either side of the portal. At the

other end, though partly muffled by a curtain, it was more

powerfully illuminated by one of those embowed hall windows

which we read of in old books, and which was provided with a

deep and cushioned seat. Here, on the cushion, lay a folio tome,

probably of the Chronicles of England, or other such substantial

literature; even as, in our own days, we scatter gilded volumes

on the centre table, to be turned over by the casual guest. The

furniture of the hall consisted of some ponderous chairs, the

backs of which were elaborately carved with wreaths of oaken

flowers; and likewise a table in the same taste, the whole being

of the Elizabethan age, or perhaps earlier, and heirlooms,

transferred hither from the Governor's paternal home. On the

table--in token that the sentiment of old English hospitality

had not been left behind--stood a large pewter tankard, at the

bottom of which, had Hester or Pearl peeped into it, they might

have seen the frothy remnant of a recent draught of ale.