Answer:
In Chapters 9-12 of "The Scarlet Letter," there are several examples of how Arthur Dimmesdale is dealing with his community on the surface while struggling with his inner turmoil beneath:
1) On the surface, Dimmesdale is highly regarded by the people of Boston, who see him as a model of piety and morality. However, beneath the surface, he is plagued by guilt and self-doubt over his secret sin.
2) When Dimmesdale sees Hester and Pearl on the scaffold at night, he is overcome with emotion and almost reveals his identity as Hester's partner in sin. However, he restrains himself and returns to his public persona as a respected minister.
3) In Chapter 10, Dimmesdale delivers a powerful sermon on the topic of sin, which greatly impresses his congregation. However, after the service, he is overcome with a sense of hypocrisy and shame, realizing that he himself is guilty of the very sin he has preached against.
4) In Chapter 11, Dimmesdale becomes increasingly isolated and tormented by his secret sin, and begins to punish himself physically by whipping himself and wearing a "scourge." However, he continues to maintain his public persona as a holy and revered minister.
Overall, these examples show how Dimmesdale is struggling to reconcile his private guilt and anguish with his public role as a spiritual leader. He is torn between the expectations of his community and the demands of his own conscience, and this conflict drives much of the novel's plot.