ude。　Thou　mayest　conceal　it；　too；　from　the　ministers　andmagistrates；　even　as　thou　didst　this　day；　when　they　sought　to　wrenchthe　name　out　of　thy　heart；　and　give　thee　a　partner　on　thy　pedestal。But；　as　for　me；　I　e　to　the　inquest　with　other　senses　than　theypossess。　I　shall　seek　this　man；　as　I　have　sought　truth　in　books；　asI　have　sought　gold　in　alchemy。　There　is　a　sympathy　that　will　make　meconscious　of　him。　I　shall　see　him　tremble。　I　shall　feel　myselfshudder；　suddenly　and　unawares。　Sooner　or　later；　he　must　needs　bemine！〃 The　eyes　of　the　wrinkled　scholar　glowed　so　intensely　upon　her；that　Hester　Prynne　clasped　her　hands　over　her　heart；　dreading　lesthe　should　read　the　secret　there　at　once。 〃Thou　wilt　not　reveal　his　name？　Not　the　less　he　is　mine；〃　resumedhe；　with　a　look　of　confidence；　as　if　destiny　were　at　one　with　him。　〃Hebears　no　letter　of　infamy　wrought　into　his　garment；　as　thou　dost；but　I　shall　read　it　on　his　heart。　Yet　fear　not　for　him！　Think　not　thatI　shall　interfere　with　Heaven's　own　method　of　retribution；　or；　to　myown　loss；　betray　him　to　the　gripe　of　human　law。　Neither　do　thouimagine　that　I　shall　contrive　aught　against　his　life；　no；　noragainst　his　fame；　if；　as　I　judge；　he　be　a　man　of　fair　repute。　Lethim　live！　Let　him　hide　himself　in　outward　honour；　if　he　may！　Not　theless　he　shall　be　mine！〃 〃Thy　acts　are　like　mercy；〃　said　Hester；　bewildered　and　appalled。〃But　thy　words　interpret　thee　as　a　terror！〃 〃One　thing；　thou　that　wast　my　wife；　I　would　enjoin　upon　thee；〃continued　th