"Why, what is this, mother?" cried she. "Wherefore have all the
people left their work to-day? Is it a play-day for the whole
world? See, there is the blacksmith! He has washed his sooty
face, and put on his Sabbath-day clothes, and looks as if he
would gladly be merry, if any kind body would only teach him
how! And there is Master Brackett, the old jailer, nodding and
smiling at me. Why does he do so, mother?"
"He remembers thee a little babe, my child," answered Hester.
"He should not nod and smile at me, for all that--the black,
grim, ugly-eyed old man!" said Pearl. "He may nod at thee, if he
will; for thou art clad in gray, and wearest the scarlet letter.
But see, mother, how many faces of strange people, and Indians
among them, and sailors! What have they all come to do, here in
the market-place?"
"They wait to see the procession pass," said Hester. "For the
Governor and the magistrates are to go by, and the ministers,
and all the great people and good people, with the music and the
soldiers marching before them."
"And will the minister be there?" asked Pearl. "And will he
hold out both his hands to me, as when thou ledst me to him
from the brook-side?"
"He will be there, child," answered her mother, "but he will not
greet thee to-day, nor must thou greet him.
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