What does the minister reply when pearl asks him if he will stand on the scaffold with them in broad day light?

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter," when Pearl asks the minister, Reverend Dimmesdale, if he will stand on the scaffold with them in broad daylight, he initially struggles with his guilt and shame. He expresses his deep emotional turmoil and fear of public exposure, indicating that he is not yet ready to confront his sin in such an open manner. Dimmesdale's response highlights his internal conflict between his desire for redemption and his overwhelming sense of shame. Ultimately, it underscores the theme of hidden sin and the struggle for personal truth.