It was perceived, too, that while Hester never put forward even the humblest title to share in the world's privileges- further than to breathe the common air, and earn daily bread for little Pearl and herself by the faithful labour of her hands- she was quick to acknowledge her sisterhood with the race of man, whenever benefits were to be conferred. None so ready as she to give of her little substance to every demand of poverty; even though the bitter-hearted pauper threw back a gibe in requital of the food brought regularly to his door, or the garments wrought for him by the fingers that could have embroidered a monarch's robe. None so self-devoted as Hester, when pestilence stalked through the town. In all seasons of calamity, indeed, whether general or of individuals, the outcast of society at once found her place. She came, not as a guest, but as a rightful inmate into the household that was darkened by trouble; as if its gloomy twilight were a medium in which she was entitled to hold intercourse with her fellow-creatures. There glimmered the embroidered letter, with comfort in its unearthly ray. Elsewhere the token of sin, it was the taper of the sick-chamber. It had even thrown its gleam, in the sufferer's hard extremity, across the verge of time. It had shown him where to set his foot, while the light of earth was fast becoming dim, and ere the light of futurity could reach him. In such emergencies, Hester's nature showed itself warm and rich; a well-spring of human tenderness, unfailing to every real demand, and inexhaustible by the largest. Her breast, with its badge of shame, was but the softer pillow for the head that needed one. She was self-ordained a Sister of Mercy; or, we may rather say, the world's heavy hand had so ordained her, when neither the world nor she looked forward to this result. The letter was the symbol of her calling. Such helpfulness was found in her- so much power to do, and power to sympathise- that many people refused to interpret the scarlet A by its original signification. They said that it meant Able; so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman's strength.
人們也注意到：海絲特除去呼吸共同的空氣，并用雙手一絲不茍的勞作為她自已和小珠兒掙得每日的面包之外，對分享世上的特權(quán)連最卑微的要求都從不提出；反之，一有施惠于人的機(jī)會，她立即承認(rèn)她與人類的姊妹之情。對于窮苦人的每一種需要，她比誰都快地就提供了她菲薄的支援；盡管那些心腸狠毒的窮人對她定期送到門口的食物或她用本可刺繡王袍的手指做成的衣物，竟會反唇相譏。在鎮(zhèn)上蔓延瘟疫的時候，誰也沒有海絲特那樣忘我地獻(xiàn)身。每逢災(zāi)難，無論是普遍的還是個人的，這個為社會所摒棄的人，都會馬上挺身而出。她來到愁云緊鎖的家庭，并非作為客人，而是作為理應(yīng)到來的親人；似乎那室內(nèi)晦暗的微光成了她有權(quán)與她的同類進(jìn)行交往的中介。她胸前繡著的字母閃著的非凡的光輝，將溫暖舒適帶給他人。那字母本來是罪惡的標(biāo)記，此時在病室中卻成了一支燭光。在受難者痛苦的彌留之際，那字母甚至?xí)⑵涔廨x跨越時間的界限：在硯世的光亮迅速暗淡下去、而來世的光亮還沒照到死者之前，為他照亮踏腳的地方。在這種緊急情況下，海絲特顯示了她那可貴的溫厚秉性：那是人類溫情的可靠源泉，對任何真正的需要都有求必應(yīng)，哪怕需要再大，也絕不會枯竭。她的胸口雖然佩著恥辱牌，對有所需要的人卻是柔軟的枕頭。她是自我委任的“慈善的姊妹”；或者，我們完全可以說，人世的沉重的手掌曾經(jīng)這樣委任了她。但當(dāng)時無論人世或她本人都沒有期待著她會不負(fù)所望。那字母成了她響應(yīng)感召的象征。由于從她身上可以得到那么多的支援——她深富同情心又極肯助人——許多人都不肯再按本意來解釋那紅色的字母“A”了。他們說，那字母的意思是“能干”①；海絲特·白蘭只是個弱女子，但她太有力量了。