In "The Scarlet Letter," why does Hester speak to Roger Chillingworth after so many years? What does she hope to accomplish?

class="MsoNormal">In one sense she didn't have a choice.  It was her and 's
emotional turmoil that led them to seek help for her.  Asdescribes it whenis brought in: 

"I shall own you [Chillingworth] for a man
of skill indeed! Verily, the woman hath been like a possessed one; and there lacks little, that
I should take in hand to drive Satan out of her with stripes."  

class="MsoNormal">Althoughis fearful and suspects that Chillingworth might try to
poison her or Pearl, she meets a man quite different from what she had expected.  "Foolish
woman!" responded the physician, half coldly, half soothingly. "What should ail me to
harm this misbegotten and miserable babe?"

class="MsoNormal">Thus begins their long discussion about Chillingworth's desire
(soon to be come obsession) to find out who the father is.   But before that, there is the
somewhat touching conversation where they both confess to contributing to the failure of their
marriage.  This is also the point at which Hester, much to her later regret, promises to keep
his identity secret.

 It is interesting how
Hawthorne brought them both together and allowed us to understand all there is to know about
their past relationship while setting the stage for what is to come.

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