Enter Roger Prynne, shaved, and dressed as a doctor of medicine.
Roger himself!
Roger. Thou didst provide snug quarters, Hester, against my coming. Aye, and hast furnished them better than I bade thee.
Hester. The cost was small; my needle and my energy—
Roger. Have done the work; yea, and supplied the cradle also. Ah! 'tis a brave piece of work; very beautiful and delicate; the lusty offspring of lustful parents. Somewhat costly, I should think, and asked some pains. Methinks, thou hadst some help with that; or was it thy needle or thy energy which wrought this dainty bit?
Hester. Touch not the child; 'tis mine, thou hast no part in it.
Roger. Too true. But calm thyself. I have not harmed the brat, nor did I touch it. [Looking around.] I like thy taste, Hester. A handsome house to hold a handsome woman.
Hester. The house is thine; let me and my babe depart.
Roger. Nay, keep the house, 'twill shelter you; I do not need it.
Hester. I will not have it.