The Scarlet Letter Chapter 19

Hester begins to recite all of Pearl's wonderful qualities. Pearl approaches Hester and Arthur, but stops at the far edge of the brook. It is almost as if Pearl is unable to return to Hester from the wild of the forest. "'I have a strange fancy,' observed the sensitive minister, 'that this brook is the boundary between two worlds, and that thou canst never meet thy Pearl again.'" Chapter 19, pg. 191.

Topic Tracking: Wild 10

Pearl begins pointing wildly at her mother's breast and shrieking. Hester realizes that Pearl misses the scarlet letter, which Hester has always worn in Pearl's presence. Hester picks up the letter from the near side of the brook and pins in back on her dress, at which point Pearl runs across the brook to Hester and hugs her tightly. Hester asks Pearl to come meet Arthur Dimmesdale, to which Pearl asks if he will walk with them into town. Hester says no. Dimmesdale gives Pearl a kiss on her forehead. Pearl promptly runs to the brook to wash it off, and stays standing apart from the two adults as they finish conversing and planning.