nition　of　an　adverse　world；　and　so　fierce　a　training　of　theenergies　that　were　to　make　good　her　cause；　in　the　contest　that　mustensue。 Gazing　at　Pearl；　Hester　Prynne　often　dropped　her　work　upon　herknees；　and　cried　out　with　an　agony　which　she　would　fain　have　hidden；but　which　made　utterance　for　itself；　betwixt　speech　and　a　groan；　〃OFather　in　heaven…　if　Thou　art　still　my　Father…　what　is　this　beingwhich　I　have　brought　into　the　world！〃　And　Pearl；　overbearing　theejaculation；　or　aware；　through　some　more　subtile　channel；　of　thosethrobs　of　anguish；　would　turn　her　vivid　and　beautiful　little　face　uponher　mother；　smile　with　sprite…like　intelligence；　and　resume　her　play。 One　peculiarity　of　the　child's　deportment　remains　yet　to　be　told。The　very　first　thing　which　she　had　noticed；　in　her　life；　was…　what？…not　the　mother's　smile；　responding　to　it；　as　other　babies　do；　bythat　faint；　embryo　smile　of　the　little　mouth；　remembered　so　doubtfullyafterwards；　and　with　such　fond　discussion　whether　it　were　indeed　asmile。　By　no　means！　But　that　first　object　of　which　Pearl　seemed　tobee　aware　was…　shall　we　say　it？…　the　scarlet　letter　on　Hester'sbosom！　One　day；　as　her　mother　stooped　over　the　cradle；　the　infant'seyes　had　been　caught　by　the　glimmering　of　the　gold　embroidery　aboutthe　letter；　and；　putting　up　her　little　hand；　she　grasped　at　it；smiling；　not　doubtfully；　but　with　a　decided　gleam；　that　gave　herface　the　look　of　a　much　older　child。　Then；　gasping　for　breath；　didHester　Prynne　clutch　the　fatal　token；　instin