In order to free his mind from this indistinctnessand duplicityof impression, which vexed it with a strange disquietude, he recalled and more thoroughly defined the plans which Hester and himself had sketchedfor their departure. It had been determined between them, that the Old World, with its crowds and cities, offered them a more eligibleshelter and concealment than the wilds of New England, or all America, with its alternatives of an Indian wigwam, or the few settlements of Europeans, scattered thinly along the seaboard. Not to speak of the clergyman's health, so inadequate to sustain the hardships of a forest life, his native gifts, his culture, and his entire development, would secure him a home only in the midst of civilisationand refinement; the higher the state, the more delicately adapted to it the man. In furtheranceof this choice, it so happened that a ship lay in the harbour; one of those questionable cruisers, frequent at that day, which, without being absolutely outlaws of the deep, yet roamedover its surface with a remarkable irresponsibility of character. This vessel had recently arrived from the Spanish Main, and, within three days' time, would sail for Bristol. Hester Prynne- whose vocation, as a self-enlisted Sister of Charity, had brought her acquainted with the captain and crew- could take upon herself to secure the passage of two individuals and a child, with all the secrecy which circumstances rendered more than desirable.
为了摆脱那搅得他莫名其妙地心烦意乱的说不清、道不明的印象,他回忆并更加彻底地澄清了一下他和海丝特为出走所安排的计划。他俩已经商妥,比起只在沿海一带疏落地散布着印第安人的茅屋或欧洲移民聚居区的新英格兰或全美洲的荒野,旧大陆人烟稠密、城市辏集,更适合于他们隐蔽或隐居式的生活。不消说,牧师的健康状况极不宜于忍受森林中的艰苦条件,何况他的天赋才能、他的文化教养以及他的全部前程,也只有在文明和优雅的环境中才能找到归宿;地位越高,他才越有用武之地。促使他们作出这一抉择的,还因为刚好有一条船停在港湾;这是那年月中时常有的一种形迹可疑的航船,虽说在深海中并非绝对地非法,却是带有极不负责任的性质在海面上游荡的。这艘船最近从拉丁美洲北部海域开来,准备在三天之内驶往英国的布利斯托尔。海丝特·白兰作为妇女慈善会的志愿人员,有机会结识了船长和海员,她可以有把握为两个大人和一个孩子弄到舱位,而且那种环境还提供了求之不得的一切保密要求。
【英文名著精选阅读:《红字》第二十章(上)】相关文章:
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