ere almost intuitive； and when the minister threwhis startled eyes towards him； there the physician sat； his kind；watchful； sympathising； but never intrusive friend。 Yet Mr。 Dimmesdale would perhaps have seen this individual"scharacter more perfectly； if a certain morbidness； to which sickhearts are liable； had not rendered him suspicious of all mankind。Trusting no man as his friend； he could not recognise his enemy whenthe latter actually appeared。 He therefore still kept up a familiarintercourse with him； daily receiving the old physician in hisstudy； or visiting the laboratory； and； for recreation"s sake；watching the processes by which weeds were converted into drugs ofpotency。 One day； leaning his forehead on his hand； and his elbow on the sillof the open window； that looked towards the graveyard； he talkedwith Roger Chillingworth； while the old man was examining a bundleof unsightly plants。 〃Where；〃 asked he； with a look askance at them… for it was theclergyman"s peculiarity that he seldom； nowadays； lookedstraight…forth at any object； whether human or inanimate… 〃where； mykind doctor； did you gather those herbs； with such a dark； flabbyleaf？〃 〃Even in the graveyard here at hand；〃 answered the physician；continuing his employment。 〃They are new to me。 I found them growingon a grave； which bore no tombstone； nor other memorial of the deadman； save these ugly weeds； that have taken upon themselves to keephim in remembrance。 They grew out of his heart； and typify； it may be；some hideous secret that was buried with him； and which he had donebetter to confess during his lifetime。〃 〃Perchance；〃 said Mr。 Dimmesdale； 〃he earnestly desired it； butcould not。〃 〃And wherefore？〃 rejoined the physician。 〃Wherefore not； since allthe powers of nature call so earnestly for the confession of sin； thatthese black weeds have sprung up out of a buried heart； to makemanifest an unspoken crime？〃 〃That； good sir； is but a fantasy of yours；〃 replied the minister。〃There can be； if I forebode aright； no power； short of the Divinemercy； to disclose； whether by uttered words； or by type or emblem；the secrets that may be buried with a human heart。 The heart； makingitself guilty of such secrets； must perforce hold them until the daywhen all hidden things shall be revealed。 Nor have I so read orinterpreted Holy Writ； as to understand that the disclosure of humanthoughts and deeds； then to be made； is intended as a part of theretribution。 That； surely； were a shallow view of it。 No； theserevelations； unless I greatly err； are meant merely to promote theintellectual satisfaction of all intelligent beings； who will standwaiting； on that day； to see the dark problem of this life made plain。A knowledge of men"s hearts will be needful to the pletest solutionof that problem。 And I conceive； moreover； that the hearts holdingsuch miserable secrets as you speak of will yield them up； at thatlast day； not with reluctance； but with a joy unutterable。〃 〃Then why not reveal them here？〃 asked Roger Chillinginister。 〃Why should not the guilty onessooner avail themselves of this unutterable solace？〃 〃They mostly do；〃 said the clergyman； griping hard at his breast； asif afflicted with an importunate throb of pain。 〃Many； many a poorsoul hath given its confidence to me； not only on the deathbed； butwhile strong in life； and fair in reputation。 And ever； after suchan outpouring； oh； what a relief have I witnessed in those sinfulbrethren！ even as in one who at last draws free air； after longstifling with his own polluted breath。 How can it be otherwise？ Whyshould a wretched man； guilty； we will say； of murder； prefer tokeep the dead corpse buried in his own heart； rather than fling itforth at once； and let the universe take care of it？〃 〃Yet some men bury their secrets thus；〃 observed the calm physician。 〃True； there are such men；〃 answered Mr。 Dimmesdale。 〃But； not tosuggest more obvious reasons； it may be that they are kept silent bythe very constitution of their nature。 Or… can we not suppose it？…guilty as they may be； retaining； nevertheless； a zeal for God"s gloryand man"s welfare； they shrink from displaying themselves black andfilthy in the view of men； because； thenceforward； no good can beachieved by them； no evil of the past be redeemed by better service。So； to their own unutterable torment； they go about among theirfellow…creatures； looking pure as new…fallen snow； while theirhearts are all speckled and spotted with iniquity of which they cannotrid themselves。〃 〃These men deceive themselves；〃 said Roger Chillingworth； withsomewhat more emphasis than usual； and making a slight gesture withhis forefinger。 〃They fear to take up the shame that rightfullybelongs to them。 Their love for man； their zeal for God"s service…these holy impulses may or may not coexist in their hearts with theevil inmates to which their guilt has unbarred the door； and whichmust needs propagate a hellish breed within them。 But； if they seek toglorify God； let them not lift heavenward their unclean hands！ If theywould serve their fellow…men； let them do it by making manifest thepower and reality of conscience； in constraining them to penitentialself…abasement！ Wouldst thou have me to believe； O wise and piousfriend； that a false show can be better… can be more for God"sglory； or man"s welfare… than God"s own truth？ Trust me； such mendeceive themselves！〃 〃It may be so；〃 said the young clergyman； indifferently； aswaiving a discussion that he considered irrelevant or unseasonable。 Hehad a ready faculty； indeed； of escaping from any topic thatagitated his too sensitive and nervous temperament。 〃But； now； I wouldask of my well…skilled physician； whether； in good sooth； he deemsme to have profited by his kindly care of this weak frame of mine？〃 Before Roger Chillingworth could answer； they heard the clear；wild laughter of a young child"s voice； proceeding from the adjacentburial…ground。 Looking instinctively from the open window… for itwas summer…time… the minister beheld Hester Prynne and little Pearlpassing along the footpath that traversed the enclosure。 Pearllooked as beautiful as the day； but was in one of those moods ofperverse merriment which； whenever they occurred； seemed to re