Dost Thou Know, My Little Pearl?

Pearl imitated the decoration on her mother's bosom. The child bent her chin upon her breast and contemplated this device with strange interest. She felt a morbid desire to ascertain the point dost thou know? Child, wherefore thy mother wears this letter? Hester looked steadily into her little face. But though there was that singular expression which she had so often remarked in her black eyes, she could not satisfy herself whether pearl really attached any meaning to the symbol.