the scarlet letter, symbol 6

Chapter 3

"When he found the eyes of Hester Prynne fastened on his own, and saw that she appeared to recognize him, he slowly and calmly raised his finger, made a gesture with it in the air, and laid it on his lips." Usually when people put a finger on their lips they want the other to keep silent. In this case, the man wants Hester to pretend that they don't know each other. To me it seems like the man with the Indian clothes had planned everything, he knows what's going on. Hester seemed very surprised when she saw him, and her reaction is described as this in the text: "..she pressed her infant to her bosom, with so convulsive a force that the poor babe uttered another cry of pain. But the mother did not seem to hear it" She must been really shocked, and it sounds like she is afraid of the man, because she pressed her baby so hard to her breast. I think she pressed the baby so hard to her breast (where the scarlet letter is) because she tried to hide her secret more.