英文名著精选阅读：《红字》第二十二章（上）_英美文化

英文名著精选阅读：《红字》第二十二章（上）

我弄不准那是不是他;他刚才的样子真怪极了，孩子接着说。“要不我就朝他跑过去，当着所有人的面要他亲我了——就象他在那片黑黑的老树林子里那样。牧师会说些什么呢，妈妈?他会不会用手捂着心口，对我瞪起眼睛，要我走开呢?

"What should he say, Pearl?" answered Hester, "save that it was no time to kiss, and that kisses are not to be given in the market-place? Well for thee, foolish child, that thou didst not speak to him!"

“他能说些什么呢，珠儿?海丝特回答说，“他只能说，这不是亲你的时候，而且也不能在市场上亲你。总算还好，傻孩子，你没跟他讲话!

Another shade of the same sentiment, in reference to Mr. Dimmesdale, was expressed by a person whose eccentricities- or insanity, as we should term it- led her to do what few of the townspeople would have ventured on; to begin a conversation with the wearer of the scarlet letter, in public. It was Mistress Hibbins, who, arrayed in great magnificence, with a triple ruff, a broidered stomacher, a gown of rich velvet, and a gold-headed cane, had come forth to see the procession. As this ancient lady had the renown (which subsequently cost her no less a price than her life) of being a principal actor in all the works of necromancythat were continually going forward, the crowd gave way before her, and seemed to fear the touch of her garment, as if it carried the plague among its gorgeous folds. Seen in conjunction with Hester Prynne- kindly as so many now felt towards the latter- the dread inspired by Mistress Hibbins was doubled, and caused a general movement from that part of the market-place in which the two women stood.