Scarlet Letter

22 Pages 5572 Words

s asleep. He also makes a drink for Hester, who is afraid that he is trying to kill her. Nevertheless, she drinks his potion and sits down on the bed.
Chillingworth tells her that he forgives her, and accepts the blame for having married a girl younger than himself. He asks Hester who the father of Pearl is, but she refuses to tell him. Chillingworth then laughs and says, "He bears no letter of infamy wrought into his garment, as thou dost; but I shall read it on his heart."
He then makes Hester swear to never reveal that he is her husband. She becomes afraid of Chillingworth's purpose, and asks whether he has forced her into a bond that will ruin her soul. He smiles and tells her, "Not thy soul...No, not thine!"

Chapter Five: Hester at Her Needle
Summary
Hester is released from prison and finds a cottage in the woods, near the outskirts of the city, to set up her new life. Hawthorne comments on the fact that she does not avail herself of the opportunity to escape to a new life without shame in some other city. He remarks that often p...