"There goes a woman," resumed Roger Chillingworth, after a

pause, "who, be her demerits what they may, hath none of that

mystery of hidden sinfulness which you deem so grievous to be

borne. Is Hester Prynne the less miserable, think you, for that

scarlet letter on her breast?"

"I do verily believe it," answered the clergyman.

"Nevertheless, I cannot answer for her. There was a look of pain

in her face which I would gladly have been spared the sight of.

But still, methinks, it must needs be better for the sufferer to

be free to show his pain, as this poor woman Hester is, than to

cover it up in his heart."

There was another pause, and the physician began anew to examine

and arrange the plants which he had gathered.

"You inquired of me, a little time agone," said he, at length,

"my judgment as touching your health."

"I did," answered the clergyman, "and would gladly learn it.

Speak frankly, I pray you, be it for life or death."

"Freely then, and plainly," said the physician, still busy with

his plants, but keeping a wary eye on Mr. Dimmesdale, "the

disorder is a strange one; not so much in itself nor as

outwardly manifested,--in so far, at least as the symptoms have

been laid open to my observation. Looking daily at you, my good

sir, and watching the tokens of your aspect now for months gone

by, I should deem you a man sore sick, it may be, yet not so

sick but that an instructed and watchful physician might well

hope to cure you. But I know not what to say, the disease is

what I seem to know, yet know it not."

"You speak in riddles, learned sir," said the pale minister,

glancing aside out of the window.

"Then, to speak more plainly," continued the physician, "and I

crave pardon, sir, should it seem to require pardon, for this

needful plainness of my speech. Let me ask as your friend, as

one having charge, under Providence, of your life and physical

well being, hath all the operations of this disorder been fairly

laid open and recounted to me?"

"How can you question it?" asked the minister. "Surely it were

child's play to call in a physician and then hide the sore!"

"You would tell me, then, that I know all?" said Roger

Chillingworth, deliberately, and fixing an eye, bright with

intense and concentrated intelligence, on the minister's face.

"Be it so! But again! He to whom only the outward and physical

evil is laid open, knoweth, oftentimes, but half the evil which

he is called upon to cure. A bodily disease, which we look upon

as whole and entire within itself, may, after all, be but a

symptom of some ailment in the spiritual part. Your pardon once

again, good sir, if my speech give the shadow of offence. You,

sir, of all men whom I have known, are he whose body is the

closest conjoined, and imbued, and identified, so to speak, with

the spirit whereof it is the instrument."




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