By degrees, nor very slowly, her handiwork became what would now be termed the fashion. Whether from commiserationfor a woman of so miserable a destiny; or from the morbidcuriosity that gives a fictitiousvalue even to common or worthless things; or by whatever other intangiblecircumstance was then, as now, sufficient to bestow, on some persons, what others might seek in vain; or because Hester really filled a gap which must otherwise have remained vacant; it is certain that she had ready and fairly requitedemployment for as many hours as she saw fit to occupy with her needle. Vanity, it may be, chose to mortify itself, by putting on, for ceremonials of pompand state, the garments that had been wrought by her sinful hands. Her needle-work was seen on the ruff of the Governor; military men wore it on their scarfs, and the minister on his hand; it decked the baby's little cap; it was shut up, to be mildewedand moulderaway, in the coffins of the dead. But it is not recorded that, in a single instance, her skill was called in aid to embroiderthe white veil which was to cover the pure blushes of a bride. The exception indicated the ever relentlessvigour with which society frowned upon her sin.
没过多久,她的针线活就逐渐成为如今称作时时髦的款式了。或许是出于对这位如此命苦的女人的怜悯;或许是出于对平淡无奇的事情也要故弄玄虚的少见多怪;或许是出于某种难以解释的原因——这在当时和今天都是有的——某些人苦求不得的、别人却可予取予夺、或许是因为海丝特确实填补了原先的一项空白;不管是什么原因吧,反正求她做针线的活路源源不断,只要她乐意于多少钟点,总有很不错的收入。一些人可能是为了抑制自己的虚荣心,才在一些堂皇庄重的场合专门穿戴由她那双有罪的手缝制的服装。于是,她的针线活便出现在总督的皱领上、军人的绶带上、牧师的领结上;装饰在婴儿的小帽上,还给封闭在死人的棺木中霉烂掉。但是从来没人求她为新娘刺绣遮盖她们纯洁的额颜的白色面纱,这是记载中绝对没有的。这一绝无仅有的例外说明,社会对她的罪孽始终是深恶痛绝的。
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