O Hester, Prynne

The minister looked at her for an instant, with all that violence of passion. The portion of him which the devil claimed and through which he sought to win the rest. Never was there a blacker or fiercer frown than hester now countered. He sank down on the ground and buried his face in his hands. Hester would not set him free, lest he should look her sternly in the face. All the world had frowned on her. For seven long years had it frowned upon this lonely woman, and still she bore it all. Now may god forgive us both. There is one worse than even the polluted priest. What we did had a consecration of its own.