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-creature.  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 bard 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 Abel, so strong was Hester Prynne, with a woman’s strength.

It was only the darkened house that could contain her.  When sunshine came again, she was not there.  Her shadow had faded across the threshold.  The helpful inmate had departed, without one backward glance to gather up the meed of gratitude, if any were in the hearts of those whom she had served so zealously.  Meeting them in the street, she never raised her head to receive their greeting.  If they were resolute to accost her, she laid her finger on the scarlet letter, and passed on.  This might be pride, but was so like humility, that it produced all the softening influence of the latter quality on the public mind.  The public is despotic in its temper; it is capable of denying common justice when too strenuously demanded as a right; but quite as frequently it awards more than justice, when the appeal is made, as despots love to have it made, entirely to its generosity.  Interpreting Hester Prynne’s deportment as an appeal of this nature, society was inclined to show its former victim a more benign countenance than she cared to be favoured with, or, perchance, than she deserved.