Dimmesdalehadevidentlybeguntofail。Bythosebestacquaintedwithhishabits，thepalenessoftheyoungminister’scheekwasaccountedforbyhistooearnestdevotiontostudy，hisscrupulousfulfilmentofparochialduty，and，morethanall，bythefastsandvigilsofwhichhemadeafrequentpractice，inordertokeepthegrossnessofthisearthlystatefromcloggingandobscuringhisspirituallamp。Somedeclared，that，ifMr。Dimmesdalewerereallygoingtodie，itwascauseenough，thattheworldwasnotworthytobeanylongertroddenbyhisfeet。Hehimself，ontheotherhand，withcharacteristichumility，avowedhisbelief，that，ifProvidenceshouldseefittoremovehim，itwouldbebecauseofhisownunworthinesstoperformitshumblestmissionhereonearth。Withallthisdifferenceofopinionastothecauseofhisdecline，therecouldbenoquestionofthefact。Hisformgrewemaciated；hisvoice，thoughstillrichandsweet，hadacertainmelancholyprophecyofdecayinit；hewasoftenobserved，onanyslightalarmorothersuddenaccident，toputhishandoverhisheart，withfirstaflushandthenapaleness，indicativeofpain。
Suchwastheyoungclergyman’scondition，andsoimminenttheprospectthathisdawninglightwouldbeextinguished，alluntimely，whenRogerChillingworthmadehisadventtothetown。Hisfirstentryonthescene，fewpeoplecouldtellwhence，droppingdown，itwere，outofthesky，orstartingfromthenetherearth，hadanaspectofmystery，whichwaseasilyheightenedtothemiraculous。Hewasnowknowntobeamanofskill；itwasobservedthathegatheredherbs，andtheblossomsofwild—flowers，andduguproots，andpluckedofftwigsfromtheforest—treeslikeoneacquaintedwithhiddenvirtuesinwhatwasvaluelesstocommoneyes。HewasheardtospeakofSirKenelmDigby，andotherfamousmen—whosescientificattainmentswereesteemedhardlylessthansupernatural—ashavingbeenhiscorrespondentsorassociates。Why，withsuchrankinthelearnedworld，hadhecomehither？Whatcouldhe，whosespherewasingreatcities，beseekinginthewilderness？Inanswertothisquery，arumourgainedground—and，howeverabsurd，wasentertainedbysomeverysensiblepeople—thatHeavenhadwroughtanabsolutemiracle，bytransportinganeminentDoctorofPhysic，fromaGermanuniversity，bodilythroughtheair，andsettinghimdownatthedoorofMr。
Dimmesdale’sstudy！Individualsofwiserfaith，indeed，whoknewthatHeavenpromotesitspurposeswithoutaimingatthestage—effectofwhatiscalledmiraculousinterposition，wereinclinedtoseeaprovidentialhandinRogerChillingworth’ssoopportunearrival。
Thisideawascountenancedbythestronginterestwhichthephysicianevermanifestedintheyoungclergyman；heattachedhimselftohimasaparishioner，andsoughttowinafriendlyregardandconfidencefromhisnaturallyreservedsensibility。Heexpressedgreatalarmathispastor’sstateofhealth，butwasanxioustoattemptthecure，and，ifearlyundertaken，seemednotdespondentofafavourableresult。Theelders，thedeacons，themotherlydames，andtheyoungandfairmaidens，ofMr。Dimmesdale’sflock，werealikeimportunatethatheshouldmaketrialofthephysician’sfranklyofferedskill。Mr。Dimmesdalegentlyrepelledtheirentreaties。
\"Ineednomedicine，\"saidhe。