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。

hter。　It　was　immediately　responded　to　by　a　light；airy；　childish　laugh；　in　which；　with　a　thrill　of　the　heart…　but　heknew　not　whether　of　exquisite　pain；　or　pleasure　as　acute…　herecognised　the　tones　of　little　Pearl。 〃Pearl！　Little　Pearl！〃　cried　he；　after　a　moment's　pause；　then；suppressing　his　voice…　〃Hester！　Hester　Prynne！　Are　you　there？〃 〃Yes；　it　is　Hester　Prynne！〃　she　replied；　in　a　tone　of　surprise；and　the　minister　heard　her　footsteps　approaching　from　the　sidewalk；along　which　she　had　been　passing。　〃It　is　I；　and　my　little　Pearl。〃 〃Whence　e　you；　Hester？〃　asked　the　minister。　〃What　sent　youhither？〃 〃I　have　been　watching　at　a　death…bed；〃　answered　Hester　Prynne…　〃atGovernor　Winthrop's　death…bed；　and　have　taken　his　measure　for　arobe；　and　am　now　going　homeward　to　my　dwelling。〃 〃e　up　hither；　Hester；　thou　and　little　Pearl；〃　said　the　ReverendMr。　Dimmesdale。　〃Ye　have　both　been　here　before；　but　I　was　not　withyou。　e　up　hither　once　again；　and　we　will　stand　all　three　together！〃 She　silently　ascended　the　steps；　and　stood　on　the　platform；holding　little　Pearl　by　the　hand。　The　minister　felt　for　the　child'sother　hand；　and　took　it。　The　moment　that　he　did　so；　there　came　whatseemed　a　tumultuous　rush　of　new　life；　other　life　than　his　own；　pouringlike　a　torrent　into　his　heart；　and　hurrying　through　all　his　veins；as　if　the　mother　and　the　child　were　municating　their　vital　warmthto　his　half…torpid　system。　The　three　formed　an　electric　chain。 〃Minister！〃　whispered　little　Pearl。 〃What　wouldst　thou　say；　child？〃　asked　Mr。　Dimmesdale。 〃Wilt　thou　stand　here　with　mother　and　me；　to…morrow　noontide？〃inquired　Pearl。 〃Nay；　not　so；　my　little　Pearl；〃　answered　the　minister；　for；　with　thenew　energy　of　the　moment；　all　the　dread　of　public　exposure；　that　hadso　long　been　the　anguish　of　his　life；　had　returned　up