第18部分(第3/7 页)

ion。 The　Governor；　in　advance　of　his　visitors；　ascended　one　or　two　steps；and；　throwing　open　the　leaves　of　the　great　hall…window；　foundhimself　close　to　little　Pearl。　The　shadow　of　the　curtain　fell　onHester　Prynne；　and　partially　concealed　her。 〃What　have　we　here？〃　said　Governor　Bellingham；　looking　with　surpriseat　the　scarlet　little　figure　before　him。　〃I　profess；　I　have　never　seenthe　like；　since　my　days　of　vanity；　in　old　King　James'　time；　when　I　waswont　to　esteem　it　a　high　favour　to　be　admitted　to　a　court　mask！There　used　to　be　a　swarm　of　these　small　apparitions；　in　holidaytime；　and　we　called　them　children　of　the　Lord　of　Misrule。　But　howgat　such　a　guest　into　my　hall？〃 〃Ay；　indeed！〃　cried　good　old　Mr。　Wilson。　〃What　little　bird　ofscarlet　plumage　may　this　be？　Methinks　I　have　seen　just　such　figures；when　the　sun　has　been　shining　through　a　richly　painted　window；　andtracing　out　the　golden　and　crimson　images　across　the　floor。　But　thatwas　in　the　old　land。　Prithee；　young　one；　who　art　thou；　and　what　hasailed　thy　mother　to　bedizen　thee　in　this　strange　fashion？　Art　thou　aChristian　child…　ha？　Dost　know　thy　catechism？　Or　art　thou　one　of　thosenaughty　elfs　or　fairies；　whom　we　thought　to　have　left　behind　us；with　other　relics　of　Papistry；　in　merry　old　England？〃 〃I　am　mother's　child；〃　answered　the　scarlet　vision；　〃and　my　nameis　Pearl！〃 〃Pearl？…　Ruby；　rather！…　or　Coral！…　or　Red　Rose；　at　the　very　least；judging　from　thy　hue！〃　responded　the　old　minister；　putting　forth　hishand　in　a　vain　attempt　to　pat　little　Pearl　on　the　cheek。　〃But　where　isthis　mother　of　thine？　Ah！　I　see；〃　he　added；　and；　turning　to　GovernorBellingham；　whispered；　〃This　is　the　selfsame　child　of　whom　we　haveheld　speech　together；　and　behold　here　the　unhappy　woman；　HesterPrynne；　her　mother！〃 〃Sayest　thou　so？〃　cried　the　Governor。