It was perceived, too, that while Hester never put forward even

the humblest title to share in the world's privileges--further

than to breathe the common air and earn daily bread for little

Pearl and herself by the faithful labour of her hands--she was

quick to acknowledge her sisterhood with the race of man

whenever benefits were to be conferred. None so ready as she to

give of her little substance to every demand of poverty, even

though the bitter-hearted pauper threw back a gibe in requital

of the food brought regularly to his door, or the garments

wrought for him by the fingers that could have embroidered a

monarch's robe. None so self-devoted as Hester when pestilence

stalked through the town. In all seasons of calamity, indeed,

whether general or of individuals, the outcast of society at

once found her place. She came, not as a guest, but as a

rightful inmate, into the household that was darkened by

trouble, as if its gloomy twilight were a medium in which she

was entitled to hold intercourse with her fellow-creature. There

glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly

ray. Elsewhere the token of sin, it was the taper of the sick

chamber. It had even thrown its gleam, in the sufferer's bard

extremity, across the verge of time. It had shown him where to

set his foot, while the light of earth was fast becoming dim,

and ere the light of futurity could reach him. In such

emergencies Hester's nature showed itself warm and rich--a

well-spring of human tenderness, unfailing to every real demand,

and inexhaustible by the largest. Her breast, with its badge of

shame, was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one.

She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy, or, we may rather say,

the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the

world nor she looked forward to this result. The letter was the

symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her--so

much power to do, and power to sympathise--that many people

refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original

signification. They said that it meant Abel, so strong was

Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.

It was only the darkened house that could contain her. When

sunshine came again, she was not there. Her shadow had faded

across the threshold. The helpful inmate had departed, without

one backward glance to gather up the meed of gratitude, if any

were in the hearts of those whom she had served so zealously.

Meeting them in the street, she never raised her head to receive

their greeting. If they were resolute to accost her, she laid

her finger on the scarlet letter, and passed on. This might be

pride, but was so like humility, that it produced all the

softening influence of the latter quality on the public mind.

The public is despotic in its temper; it is capable of denying

common justice when too strenuously demanded as a right; but

quite as frequently it awards more than justice, when the appeal

is made, as despots love to have it made, entirely to its

generosity. Interpreting Hester Prynne's deportment as an appeal

of this nature, society was inclined to show its former victim a

more benign countenance than she cared to be favoured with, or,

perchance, than she deserved.




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