第25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。

wixt　alarm　and　curiosity；　wouldgo；　knocking　from　door　to　door；　summoning　all　the　people　to　behold　theghost…　as　he　needs　must　think　it…　of　some　defunct　transgressor。　Adusky　tumult　would　flap　its　wings　from　one　house　to　another。　Then…　themorning　light　still　waxing　stronger…　old　patriarchs　would　rise　up　ingreat　haste；　each　in　his　flannel　gown；　and　matronly　dames；　withoutpausing　to　put　off　their　night…gear。　The　whole　tribe　of　decorouspersonages；　who　had　never　heretofore　been　seen　with　a　single　hair　oftheir　heads　awry；　would　start　into　public　view；　with　the　disorder　of　anightmare　in　their　aspects。　Old　Governor　Bellingham　would　egrimly　forth；　with　his　King　James　ruff　fastened　askew；　and　MistressHibbins；　with　some　twigs　of　the　forest　clinging　to　her　skirts；　andlooking　sourer　than　ever；　as　having　hardly　got　a　wink　of　sleep　afterher　night　ride；　and　good　Father　Wilson；　too；　after　spending　half　thenight　at　a　death…bed；　and　liking　ill　to　be　disturbed；　thus　early；out　of　his　dreams　about　the　glorified　saints。　Hither；　likewise；would　e　the　elders　and　deacons　of　Mr　Dimmesdale's　church；　and　theyoung　virgins　who　so　idolised　their　minister；　and　had　made　a　shrinefor　him　in　their　white　bosoms；　which　now；　by…the…bye；　in　their　hurryand　confusion；　they　would　scantily　have　given　themselves　time　to　coverwith　their　kerchiefs。　All　people；　in　a　word；　would　e　stumbling　overtheir　thresholds；　and　turning　up　their　amazed　and　horror…strickenvisages　around　the　scaffold。　Whom　would　they　discern　there；　with　thered　eastern　light　upon　his　brow？　Whom；　but　the　Reverend　ArthurDimmesdale；　half　frozen　to　death；　overwhelmed　with　shame；　and　standingwhere　Hester　Prynne　had　stood！ Carried　away　by　the　grotesque　horror　of　this　picture；　theminister；　unawares；　and　to　his　own　infinite　alarm；　burst　into　agreat　peal　of　laug