Didst Thou Ever Meet the Black Man?

Pearl asked her mother, recognizing a common superstition of the period. The old dame in the chimney corner at the house where you watched last night said that a thousand and a thousand people had met him here and had written in his book. And have his mark on them. This scarlet letter was the black man's mark on thee, says pearl. Is it true, mother? Didst thou ever awake and find thy mother gone? Hester not that i remember, said the child. If thou fearest to leave me in our cottage, thou mightest take me along with thee. I would very gladly go. But mother, tell me now, is there such a