When her elf-child had departed, Hester Prynne made a step or two towards the trackthat led through the forest, but still remained under the deep shadow of the trees. She beheld the minister advancing along the path, entirely alone, and leaning on a staff which he had cut by the wayside. He looked haggardand feeble, and betrayed a nervelessdespondencyin his air, which had never so remarkably characterised him in his walks about the settlement, nor in any other situation where he deemed himself liable to notice. Here it was woefullyvisible, in this intense seclusionof the forest, which of itself would have been a heavy trial to the spirits. There was a listlessnessin his gaitas if he saw no reason for taking one step farther, nor felt any desire to do so, but would have been glad, could he be glad of anything, to flinghimself down at the root of the nearest tree, and lie there passive, for evermore. The leaves might bestrewhim, and the soil gradually accumulate and form a little hillockover his frame, no matter whether there were life in it or no. Death was too definite an object to be wished for, or avoided.
海丝特·白兰等她的小精灵孩子走远之后,便向那穿过森林的小径上走了一两步,但仍遮在树木的暗影之中。她看到牧师正沿着小径走来,他只身一人,只是手中接着一根从路边砍下的手杖。他样子憔悴无力,露出一种失魂落魄的沮丧神情,这是他在居民区周围或其它他认为显眼的地方散步时,从来在他身上看不到的。但在这里,在这与世隔绝的密林中,在这密林本身就使人深感精神压力的地方,他这种沮丧神情却暴露无遗,令人目不忍睹。他无精打采,举步维艰;仿佛他不明所以,不肯向前,也根本不想再迈一步,如果他还有什么可高兴的,大概就是巴不得在最近的一棵树下躺倒,无所事事地躺上一辈子。树叶会撒落在他身上,泥土会逐渐堆积,从而在他身上形成一个小土丘,无需过问他的躯体内还有无生命。死亡这个十分明确的目标,是不必巴望,也不必回避的。
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