Kristy O'Dowd: In this paragraph, Dimmesdale, for the first time really confronts the fact that he is indeed Pearl's father and he recognizes that physically Pearl is beginning to resemble him. He sort of jokes with Hester about how Pearl is mostly hers and that maybe because Pearl resembles him now, he will have problems with people noticing their broken and secretive family. He says, "this dear child, tripping about always at thy side, hath caused me many an alarm?" which is extremely concieted and selfish because Hester has been dealing with raising Pearl all on her own without Dimmesdale's help. Regardless, Dimmesdale has the nerve to tell Hester that she has "caused him many an alarm," while Hester has had a life of nothing but alarm and shame because of Pearl. Yet, she remains quiet and does not complain or even refute/rebuke Dimmesdale, she laughs back as if the whole situation were a joke.