LittlePearl—whowasasgreatlypleasedwiththegleamingarmourasshehadbeenwiththeglitteringfrontispieceofthehouse—spentsometimelookingintothepolishedmirrorofthebreastplate。
\"Mother，\"criedshe，\"Iseeyouhere。Look！Look！\"
Hesterlooked，bywayofhumouringthechild；andshesawthat，owingtothepeculiareffectofthisconvexmirror，thescarletletterwasrepresentedinexaggeratedandgiganticproportions，soastobegreatlythemostprominentfeatureofherappearance。Intruth，sheseemedabsolutelyhiddenbehindit。Pearlpointedupward，also，atasimilarpictureinthehead—piece；smilingathermother，withtheelfishintelligencethatwassofamiliaranexpressiononhersmallphysiognomy。Thatlookofnaughtymerrimentwaslikewisereflectedinthemirror，withsomuchbreadthandintensityofeffect，thatitmadeHesterPrynnefeelasifitcouldnotbetheimageofherownchild，butofanimpwhowasseekingtomoulditselfintoPearl’sshape。
\"Comealong，Pearl，\"saidshe，drawingheraway。\"Comeandlookintothisfairgarden。Itmaybe，weshallseeflowersthere；morebeautifulonesthanwefindinthewoods。\"
Pearl，accordingly，rantothebow—window，atthefartherendofthehall，andlookedalongthevistaofagarden—walk，carpetedwithcloselyshavengrass，andborderedwithsomerudeandimmatureattemptatshrubbery。Buttheproprietorappearedalreadytohaverelinquished，ashopeless，theefforttoperpetuateonthissideoftheAtlantic，inahardsoilandamidtheclosestruggleforsubsistence，thenativeEnglishtasteforornamentalgardening。