heard　scarlet　letter；　and　to　whom　it　hadbeen　made　terrific　by　a　hundred　false　or　exaggerated　rumours；　butwho　had　never　beheld　it　with　their　own　bodily　eyes。　These；　afterexhausting　other　modes　of　amusement；　now　thronged　about　HesterPrynne　with　rude　and　boorish　intrusiveness。　Unscrupulous　as　it　was；however；　it　could　not　bring　them　nearer　than　a　circuit　of　severalyards。　At　that　distance　they　accordingly　stood；　fixed　there　by　thecentrifugal　force　of　the　repugnance　which　the　mystic　symbolinspired。　The　whole　gang　of　sailors；　likewise；　observing　the　pressof　spectators；　and　learning　the　purport　of　the　scarlet　letter；　cameand　thrust　their　sunburnt　and　desperado…looking　faces　into　the　ring。Even　the　Indians　were　affected　by　a　sort　of　cold　shadow　of　the　whiteman's　curiosity；　and；　gliding　through　the　crowd；　fastened　theirsnake…like　black　eyes　on　Hester's　bosom；　conceiving；　perhaps；　that　thewearer　of　this　brilliantly　embroidered　badge　must　needs　be　a　personageof　high　dignity　among　her　people。　Lastly　the　inhabitants　of　the　town（their　own　interest　in　this　worn…out　subject　languidly　revivingitself；　by　sympathy　with　what　they　saw　others　feel）　lounged　idly　tothe　same　quarter；　and　tormented　Hester　Prynne；　perhaps　more　than　allthe　rest；　with　their　cool；　well…acquainted　gaze　at　her　familiar　shame。Hester　saw　and　recognised　the　self…same　faces　of　that　group　ofmatrons；　who　had　awaited　her　forthing　from　the　prison…door；　sevenyears　ago；　all　save　one；　the　youngest　and　only　passionate　amongthem；　whose　b