Andthus，whilestandingonthescaffold，inthisvainshowofexpiation，Mr。Dimmesdalewasovercomewithagreathorrorofmind，asiftheuniverseweregazingatascarlettokenonhisnakedbreast，rightoverhisheart。Onthatspot，inverytruth，therewas，andtherehadlongbeen，thegnawingandpoisonoustoothofbodilypain。
Withoutanyeffortofhiswill，orpowertorestrainhimself，heshriekedaloud；anoutcrythatwentpealingthroughthenight，andwasbeatenbackfromonehousetoanother，andreverberatedfromthehillsinthebackground；asifacompanyofdevils，detectingsomuchmiseryandterrorinit，hadmadeaplaythingofthesound，andwerebandyingittoandfro。
\"Itisdone！\"mutteredtheminister，coveringhisfacewithhishands。\"Thewholetownwillawake，andhurryforth，andfindmehere！\"
Butitwasnotso。Theshriekhadperhapssoundedwithafargreaterpower，tohisownstartledears，thanitactuallypossessed。
Thetowndidnotawake；or，ifitdid，thedrowsyslumberersmistookthecryeitherforsomethingfrightfulinadream，orforthenoiseofwitches；whosevoices，atthatperiod，wereoftenheardtopassoverthesettlementsorlonelycottages，astheyrodewithSatanthroughtheair。Theclergyman，therefore，hearingnosymptomsofdisturbance，uncoveredhiseyesandlookedabouthim。Atoneofthechamber—windowsofGovernorBellingham’smansion，whichstoodatsomedistance，onthelineofanotherstreet，hebeheldtheappearanceoftheoldmagistratehimself，withalampinhishand，awhitenight—caponhishead，andalongwhitegownenvelopinghisfigure。Helookedlikeaghost，evokedunseasonablyfromthegrave。Thecryhadevidentlystartledhim。Atanotherwindowofthesamehouse，moreover，appearedoldMistressHibbins，theGovernor’ssister，alsowithalamp，which，eventhusfaroff，revealedtheexpressionofhersouranddiscontentedface。Shethrustforthherheadfromthelattice，andlookedanxiouslyupward。Beyondtheshadowofadoubt，thisvenerablewitch—ladyhadheardMr。Dimmesdale’soutcry，andinterpretedit，withitsmultitudinousechoesandreverberations，astheclamourofthefiendsandnight—hags，withwhomshewaswellknowntomakeexcursionsintotheforest。