I don't want it

I find The Reverend's thoughts during chapter 19 to be very interesting. Hester opens the chapter by commenting on the beauty of her daughter, and she mentions some physical traits that Pearl shares with her father. I find it very interesting that at this point, Pearl's most beautiful moment, her father denies the traits he has passed on to his daughter. It almost seems that he does not want anything to do with the child. The unprecedented nature of these feelings is reenforced when Hester and Dimmesdale reflect on their meeting at the scaffold. There has always been a strange companionship between Dimmesdale and his daughter. A feeling that Dimmesdale has tried to hold on to for as long as possible, for instance on the scaffold. Knowing full well that he has such great love for his daughter, it is strange to see him almost deny ownership of her in this scene.