Final answer:
The question lacks sufficient context to accurately determine the symbolic action taken by Hester to put the past behind, hence an answer cannot be provided without further information.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to an action performed by Hester, a character possibly from a piece of literature, which symbolizes her putting the past behind them. There is not enough context provided to determine exactly what Hester does to symbolize this action as the provided excerpts reference different characters and situations not directly relating to Hester's symbolic action.
As a result, it is not possible to provide an accurate and confident answer to the question. Context is crucial when analyzing literature, especially when it comes to symbolism and character actions, in order to ensure that the interpretation is aligned with the author's intentions and the narrative of the work.