as one of the little sea-birds, she appeared beside Hester and pointed her finger towards the letter A on her bosom. "My little Pearl,' said Hester, after a moment's silence, the green letter means nothing on your childish bosom. But do you know why your mother wears it?' "Oh, yes!" said Pearl, smiling. It is for the same reason that the priest puts his hand over his heart! "And what reason is that? asked Hester. "I don't know, replied Pearl. "Mother, what does this scarlet letter mean? Why do you wear it on your bosom? And why does the priest keep his hand over his heart?' Hester stared down into her daughter's black eyes. What should she say? The truth? No! If that was the price of the child's understanding, she could not pay it. "Silly Pearl!" she said. "There are many things in this world that a child must not ask about. What do l know about the priest's heart? And as for the scarlet letter, I wear it for its gold thread It was the first time that Hester had lied about the letter, and the child did not stop asking the same questions. Two or three times on the way home, several times at supper, and again the next morning, Pearl asked, "Mother, Mother, what does the scarlet letter mean?" and "Why does the priest keep his hand over his heart?' "Stop it!' Hester said, in a sharper voice than she had ever used before. "Stop it, or I'll shut you in the dark cupboard!'