When they reaches the western end of the marketplace, the people cheered. AS the shouts died down, Hester saw the reverend, and was shocked at how very pale and weak he looked. It was as if he had used the last of his energy to deliver his powerful and grand sermon. Now he appeared to be a feeble man who could barely stand by himself. Pastor Wilson hurried to the reverend’s side and tried to hold arm for fear he would fall, but the reverend shook him off. He kept wslking on his own, like shaky intant By this time, he was very near the old sxaffold.
The crowd looked at him in shock, wondering if his earthly faintness was just another sign of his heavenly strength. Suddenly, the reverend turned toward the scaffold and held out his arms
“Hester,” he cried. “my little Pearl, come here to me!” The look on his face was one of terrible pain But Pearl ran to him and threw her arms around him. Hester, as if forced by invisible hands, slowly approached him.