I personally think that Hester does care for the minister (Mr Dimmesdale) if she is going to keep his name a secret so that his good name, as a man of God, is not ruined and put to shame. Hester may not love him now that their affair has been put out into the open but she does not hate or dislike him. I would also like to know why Nathaniel Hawthorne named the man that Hester has an affair with "Mr. DIMmesdale"? Anyone have any idea where that one came from?