Final answer:
In the novel The Scarlet Letter, Chillingworth asks Hester to promise not to reveal his true identity and intentions. She agrees out of guilt and a sense of responsibility.
Step-by-step explanation:
In the novel The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Chillingworth asks Hester to promise not to reveal his true identity as her long-lost husband and to keep his true intentions a secret. He wants revenge on her partner, Reverend Dimmesdale, and doesn't want Hester to interfere or expose his plans.
Hester agrees to Chillingworth's request because she feels partly responsible for his transformation into a vengeful monster. She also agrees out of guilt, as she is still bound to Chillingworth by marriage and wants to protect Dimmesdale.