紅字(純英文)/床頭燈英語.3000詞讀物 節選

　　《床頭燈英語·3000詞讀物（純英文版）：紅字》：　　"Why do we talk of marks， whether on her dress or on her forehead?" cried another female，the ugliest as well as the most pitiless of the women. "This woman has brought shame to our community， and should die. Is there no law for it? Of course there is in the words of God."　　"Be quiet， now， foolish women!" exclaimed a man in the crowd. "The prison door is opening， and here comes Mistress Prynne herself."　　The door of the prison sprang open， and there appeared， like a black shadow coming into the　　sunshine， the prison guard， with a sword at his side.This person represented the strictness of Puritan law， which it was his duty to give the final punishment to the criminals. He carried his sword in his left hand， and laid his right hand on the shoulder of a young woman， who he dragged forward. At the doorway to the prison， she resisted him， showing her 'oravery and independence， as she stepped into the sunlight. She held a child， a baby of three　　months old， who turned its head from the light. The baby's life had， until then， been only in the dark prison， it had never seen the light of day.　　When the young woman-the mother of this child-stood in front of the crowd， she held the baloy close to her chest， not to show motherly love，but to hide her sign of punishment. In a moment，however， she showed the front of her dress to the waiting crowd. They soon viewed an elegantly sewn letter "A，" which was artistically done in fine red cloth surrounded by rich gold thread.The rare piece showed a great amount of skill，which Hester had done herself. The elegant piece was of much greater quality than was allowed in the town.　　……