Heart-smittenat this bewildering and bafflingspell, that so often came between herself and her sole treasure, whom she had bought so dear, and who was all her world, Hester sometimes burst into passionate tears. Then, perhaps- for there was no foreseeing how it might affect her- Pearl would frown, and clenchher little fist, and harden her small features into a stern, unsympathisinglook of discontent. Not seldom, she would laugh anew, and louder than before, like a thing incapable and unintelligent of human sorrow. Or- but this more rarely happened- she would be convulsedwith a rage of grief, and sobout her love for her mother, in broken words, and seem intent on proving that she had a heart, by breaking it. Yet Hester was hardly safe in confiding herself to that gustytenderness; it passed, as suddenly as it came. Brooding over all these matters, the mother felt like one who has evokeda spirit, but, by some irregularity in the process of conjuration, has failed to win the master-word that should control this new and incomprehensible intelligence. Her only real comfort was when the child lay in the placidityof sleep. Then she was sure of her, and tasted hours of quiet, sad, delicious happiness; until- perhaps with that perverse expression glimmering from beneath her opening lids- little Pearl awoke!
海丝特把她花了极其高昂的代价才得到的珠儿,看作她唯一的财富和全部的天地,但她看到在自己和孩子之间十分经常地插入这令她困惑的魔障,则痛心不已,有时还流下热泪。此时,珠儿或许就会——因为无法预见那魔障可能对她有何影响——攥起小手,紧皱眉头,板起面孔,在小肠上露出不满的冷冷表情。也有不少时候,她会再次咯咯大笑,比前一次笑得还响,就象是个对人类的哀伤无从知晓的东西。还有更罕见的,她会因一阵悲恸而全身抽搐,还会抽抽噎噎地说出几个不连贯的词语来表达她对母亲的爱,似乎要用心碎证明她确实有一颗心。不过,海丝特毫无把握使自己相信这种来得快、去得疾助旋风般的柔情。这位母亲将这一切情况前思后想之后,觉得自己象是一个呼唤精灵的人,但是由于没有按照魔法的步骤行事,尚把握不住制服这个还闹不清底细的新精灵的咒语。只有在孩子躺下安然入睡时,她才感到真正的宽心;这时她才能确定她的存在,体陈上几小时的沁人肺腑的恬静和幸福,直到小珠儿一觉醒来——也许就在孩子刚刚睁眼的时候,那种倔劲又表现出来了!
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