The Scarlet Letter
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Chapter 24: Conclusion: Page 3
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| So said Hester Prynne, and glanced her sad eyes downward at the scarlet letter. And, after many, many years, a new grave was delved, near an old and sunken one, in that burial-ground beside which King’s Chapel has since been built. It was near that old and sunken grave, yet with a space between, as if the dust of the two sleepers had no right to mingle. Yet one tombstone served for both. All around, there were monuments carved with armorial bearings; and on this simple slab of slate—as the curious investigator may still discern, and perplex himself with the purport—there appeared the semblance of an engraved escutcheon. It bore a device, a herald’s wording of which might serve for a motto and brief description of our now concluded legend; so sombre is it, and relieved only by one ever-glowing point of light gloomier than the shadow:— | Hester Prynne would say this, and glance down at the scarlet letter with her sad eyes. And, after many years, a new grave was dug near an old and sunken one in the burial yard beside which King’s Chapel was later built. It was close to that old and sunken grave, but separated a space, as if the dust of the two eternal sleepers had no right to mix. Yet one tombstone was carved for the two of graves. All around were large monuments with coats of arms. On this simple slab—as the curious investigator can still observe and puzzle over—there appeared something that looked like a coat of arms. On it was written a motto, which can serve to conclude our story, now that it is finished: |
| “On a field, sable, the letter A, gules.” | “On a field of black, the letter A in scarlet.” |
