第36部分

請關閉瀏覽器的閱讀/暢讀/小說模式並且關閉廣告遮蔽過濾功能，避免出現內容無法顯示或者段落錯亂。

eate　himself　with　a　few　improper　jests；　such　asdissolute　sailors　so　abound　with；　and　a　volley　of　good；　round；solid；　satisfactory；　and　heaven…defying　oaths！　It　was　not　so　much　abetter　principle；　as　partly　his　natural　good　taste；　and　still　more　hisbuckramed　habit　of　clerical　decorum；　that　carried　him　safely　throughthe　latter　crisis。 〃What　is　it　that　haunts　and　tempts　me　thus？〃　cried　the　minister　tohimself；　at　length；　pausing　in　the　street；　and　striking　his　handagainst　his　forehead。　〃Am　I　mad？　or　am　I　given　over　utterly　to　thefiend？　Did　I　make　a　contract　with　him　in　the　forest；　and　sign　itwith　my　blood？　And　does　he　now　summon　me　to　its　fulfilment；　bysuggesting　the　performance　of　every　wickedness　which　his　most　foulimagination　can　conceive？〃 At　the　moment　when　the　Reverend　Mr。　Dimmesdale　thus　muned　withhimself；　and　struck　his　forehead　with　his　hand；　old　MistressHibbins；　the　reputed　witch…lady；　is　said　to　have　been　passing　by。She　made　a　very　grand　appearance；　having　on　a　high　head…dress；　arich　gown　of　velvet；　and　a　ruff　done　up　with　the　famous　yellow　starch；of　which　Ann　Turner；　her　especial　friend；　had　taught　her　the　secret；before　this　last　good　lady　had　been　hanged　for　Sir　Thomas　Overbury'smurder。　Whether　the　witch　had　read　the　minister's　thoughts；　or　no；　shecame　to　a　full　stop；　looked　shrewdly　into　his　face；　smiled　craftily；and…　though　little　given　to　converse　with　clergymen…　began　aconversation。 〃So；　reverend　sir；　you　have　made　a　visit　into　the　forest；〃observed　the　witch…lady；　nodding　her　high　head…dress　at　him。　〃The　nexttime；　I　pray　you　to　allow　me　only　a　fair　warning；　and　I　shall　be　proudto　bear　you　pany。　Without　taking　overmuch　upon　myself；　my　good　wordwill　go　far　towards　gaining　any　strange　gentleman　a　fair　receptionfrom　yonder　potentate　you　wot　of！〃 〃I　profess；　m