\"Onething，thouthatwastmywife，Iwouldenjoinuponthee，\"
continuedthescholar。\"Thouhastkeptthesecretofthyparamour。
Keep，likewise，mine！Therearenoneinthislandthatknowme。
Breathenot，toanyhumansoul，thatthoudidstevercallmehusband！Here，onthiswildoutskirtoftheearth，Ishallpitchmytent；for，elsewhereawanderer，andisolatedfromhumaninterests，Ifindhereawoman，aman，achild，amongstwhomandmyselfthereexisttheclosestligaments。Nomatterwhetherofloveorhate；nomatterwhetherofrightorwrong！Thouandthine，HesterPrynne，belongtome。Myhomeiswherethouart，andwhereheis。Butbetraymenot！\"
\"Whereforedostthoudesireit？\"inquiredHester，shrinking，shehardlyknewwhy，fromthissecretbond。\"Whynotannouncethyselfopenly，andcastmeoffatonce？\"