The Black Man and the Child

Hester prynne saw the minister advancing along the path entirely alone and leaning on a staff which he had cut by the wayside. He betrayed a nerveless despondency in his air which had never so remarkably characterized him in his walks about the settlement, nor in any other situation where he deemed himself liable to notice. To hester's eye, the reverend mister dimsdale exhibited no symptom of positive and vivacious suffering,. except that, as little pearl had remarked, he kept his hand over his heart.