Who visits Hester in prison? What is the outcome?

of 's novel
is titled "The Interview". This is becausehas just returned from
a long session at the scaffold where she is being forced, without results, to confess the name
of the man who fathered her child out of wedlock.

We know that Hester has
recognized a man in the crowd, and that  the effects of this recognition makes her, and
curiously enough, her baby daughter, quite uneasy.

This is when the warden of
the jail suggests a physician to determine what is wrong with Hester's child sudden outburst of
cries. This physician is none other that Hester's husband whom she had thought was
dead.

His name is now . He changes his name upon his arrival to the
settlement because he does not want to be recognized. The shame of Hester's indiscretion and his
thirst for revenge make him want to remain unknown. However, he is a physician, indeed, and he
intends to enter the settlement with those credentials so that he can be more involved in
everybody's life. He feels that he can probably get to find out who is the perpetrator who
commits the act of fornication with Hester.

His name was
announced as Roger Chillingworth. The jailer, afterushering him into the room, remained a
moment, marvelling at thecomparative quiet that followed his entrance; for Hester Prynne
hadimmediately become as still as death, although the child continued tomoan.

When Hester recognizes him, the first thing that she fears is that
he will prepare some concoction that would kill her child or her.

Wouldst thou avenge thyself on the innocent babe? whispered she. Foolish woman!
responded the physician, half coldly,half soothingly. What should ail me to harm this
misbegotten andmiserable babe? The medicine is potent for good; and were it mychild,yea, mine
own, as well as thine!I could do no better for it.

We
know that Chillingworth does not harm Hester, nor her daughter . This is not done out of pity,
but out of his sick interest of keeping them alive and well enough for Hester to confess.
However, his "kindness" comes with a price. For he is determined to find out who
cuckolded him and, for this reason, he makes Hester promise to never reveal his
identity.

Thou hast kept the secret of thy
paramour.Keep, likewise, mine! There are none in this land that know me. [.....]No matter
whether of love or hate; no matter whether of right or wrong!Thou and thine, Hester Prynne,
belong to me. My home is where thou art,and where he is. But betray me not!

Therefore, it is Chillingworth who visits Hester in prison with
every intention to cause psychological harm. Although he does help Hester with his knowledge of
medicine, he does this for the sole intention of finding out what is really going on. As a
result, his payment is to never have his identity reveal. This will cause repercussions as we
will find out. For he will use his knowledge to, eventually, identify that the paramour of
Hester is none other than , the respected reverend.