[Comprehensive Classics] Killing the Classics

Governor Bellingham's residence was a grand mansion, plastered with a great deal of broken glass.When the sun shines on the building, it will reflect a dazzling light.Anya suddenly had a whimsical idea, and stretched out her hand and said, "Mom, I want you to collect these sunshines for me! I want to peel these sunshines off this house, just for fun."

Facing the childish words of her daughter, Hester replied: "No, my little Pearl! You have to collect your own sunshine, and I have no sunshine to give you!"

Anya glanced at her with an odd smile.Then she quickly passed through the arched doorway, and came to the gate first.

Hester knocked on the door and went in, and asked the Governor's whereabouts.The governor is meeting with two pastors and a doctor, but Hester cannot give up this hard-won opportunity and insists on meeting the governor.The servant did not know her, and did not object to it.They were ushered into the hall, where they awaited the governor.

This hall is very grand, whether it is space, doors and windows, or those portraits and armors, it is undoubtedly very eye-catching.Anya stood quietly in the middle of the hall, observed for a while, and then walked to the open window.Looking out the window.

On the tree-lined road in the garden, several people were walking towards this side.These were, as the servant had described, the governor, two priests, and a doctor.Governor Bellingham was walking with the Reverend Wilson, and the Reverend Arthur Dimmesdale was walking with a short man.

The short man was undoubtedly Hester's husband.Anya had inquired about it later, and his alias was Roger Chillingworth, and he became a doctor in the local area, and was even very close to the pastor.This gives a rough idea of ​​his intentions—he wanted revenge, for the taking of his wife, for the humiliation Hester had imposed on him.But, does he now know that the pastor is the communicator?

The governor and his party walked in.They first spotted Anya in a red dress, and then they saw Hester hiding in the shadow of the curtain.When their eyes were all attracted by this dazzling little man, all of Anya's attention was on the old doctor.A mysterious smile flashed across her face, and she turned her eyes to the young pale priest again.

After meeting her gaze, the priest shuddered involuntarily.He couldn't help asking: "What's the name of this child?"

"My name is Pearl." Anya replied, looking at him maliciously.

"Pearl? That name doesn't suit you—you might as well call it red rose, or red coral, or ruby—at least in terms of color, that's what it should be." said the old pastor, turning to Governor Bellingham again: " This is the kid we talked about together."

Hester stepped forward, and said, full of sorrow, "Alas! I am the child's mother!"

Hearing these words, Roger Chillingworth and Arthur Dimmesdale shuddered at the same time.Since she was the mother of the child, the red flame, who was her father?And when their eyes shifted to Anya, the latter was also looking at them with an expression as if she already knew something.

Anya did know everything—she knew everything, but this didn't make her anger a little less.Chillingworth—Mr. Prynne, who married Hester, was a learned scholar.However, out of his longing for family warmth, he married Hester, who was much younger than himself-it was understandable both emotionally and rationally.Shouldn't people already know what's going to happen when they get married?The conclusion of every marriage contract has a common purpose.Hester did not resist, and accepted these things submissively, but overturned everything she obeyed when she met the pastor——

Mr. Dimmesdale, how much I hate it...

The lords began to talk to Hester about Anya's upbringing.Of course Hester was unwilling to give up her daughter, the only thing alive in her life.She argued hard, trying to fight for her daughter's custody.

During this gap, Pastor Wilson tried to test Anya.He asked Anya, who created her?

According to the normal answer, Anya should honestly say that she was created by the Heavenly Father.Hester had taught her the same way.However, she did not intend to answer this way, but said instead: "Victor Hugo created me."

This was indeed a great truth, but the pastor was astonished by it.Old Roger Chillingworth came over with a smile and asked Anya: "Do you know who Victor Hugo is?"

"I don't know, but you must know." Anya glanced at him and replied.

The governor has already shouted: "This is terrible! A three-year-old child can't tell who made her!"

Hester ran over and held Anya in her arms, trying to stay away from her husband as much as possible.She cried, "God has given me this child! He has given me this child to raise—I will never give her up!" She looked suddenly at the Reverend Dimmesdale, with that miserable look on his face. Said, "Speak for me! You are my pastor, and know me better than these men—you know I cannot lose this child, speak for me!"

She begged Dimmesdale again and again in a tone that was almost mad.Anya's expression darkened, and she tightly held her hands.

The Reverend Dimmesdale did speak for her.He pleaded with the governor, argued his case, and at last persuaded the officers to agree to deliver the child into the mother's hands.He waved to Anya, wanting to kiss his forehead, but Anya avoided him and ran towards Hester.

The mother and daughter left the governor's mansion, not caring what those in positions of power said about them.After much struggle, Hester was so grateful and happy to have her daughter again, that the Governor's sister, the eccentric Mrs. Hibbins, had not invited her to meet the black man in the woods. Can spoil her good spirits.With a smile all over her face, she took Anya home.However, when she entered the thatched hut, Anya, who had been silent all the way, suddenly asked, "Is he my father?"

"Oh!" Hester was greatly frightened, and she let go of her hand like an electric shock, and retreated suddenly: "Who are you talking about, my little Pearl?"

"It's him." Anya said politely with a malicious smile, "You know, ma'am—it's him."

-

Hester was almost paralyzed by Anya's prank, and it took her a long time to recover.She was worried about whether the child had really noticed something, and she was worried all day long.And in this process, she heard something--the old Roger Chillingworth, the doctor with excellent medical skills, actually lived in the mansion of the Vicar Dimmesdale and married him Make friends.

Hester was almost astonished when she first heard of such a thing.What a strange combination this is!Old and ugly doctor, and young and beautiful priest!What's even more frightening is that one is her secret husband, and the other is her secret lover!It is absolutely impossible for the pastor to guess the real identity of the doctor, but what about the doctor himself!Did he already know something? !

Indeed, old Roger Chillingworth has discovered many clues during his long time together.The melancholy on the pastor's face, the intensity of his sermons, his neurotic temperament, and the deep pain in his frail physique all pointed to the great pain in his heart. .

In spite of Roger Chillingworth's hope that he could seduce his secret thoughts, the clergyman kept silent about it.His occasional utterances may show his pain, but they have nothing to do with the facts.However, after all, he and old Roger Chillingworth are very compatible in some respects, and he also regards him as a sincere and reliable friend.Occasionally, he did reveal something—it was these painful whispers that made Hester's original husband catch the clues.

However, when he really revealed that point, the ecstasy and surprise made him determined to bury it deeply in his heart.The viciousness hidden in his heart became active at this point, leading him to imagine revenge methods beyond ordinary people.He poses as the pastor's friend, letting him confide in himself all his fears, remorse, worries, and guilt.The pleasure he got from this was particularly deep. After discovering that secret, he began to use the priest handily to take all his pains into his hands; not only to let him feel the pain of the body, but also to feel to mental torture.

Anya didn't know all this, but she could also guess some clues from the pastor's increasingly pale face.The revenge of old Roger Chillingworth can be said to be very suitable for her.She was pleased to see this, and rejoiced in the vicar's malaise as much.

If this situation continued, the pastor's spirit would soon fail.

Hester takes Anya with her wherever she goes, for fear of losing her.And Anya has grown bigger now than a few years ago, even at night, he can take her around with peace of mind.That night, the local Governor Winthrop had just passed away, and his family invited Hester to measure the size of his robe, and they took Anya to the house until late at night.

Because she is a child who is very much loved by her mother, Anya can do things that she could not do before.She sang in the dark: "I have an old trunk, put it in the boat..."