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discovered； though the form； gesture； and voice were those of Mr。
Hooper。
At the close of the services； the people hurried out with
indecorous confusion； eager to communicate their pent…up
amazement； and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost
sight of the black veil。 Some gathered in little circles； huddled
closely together； with their mouths all whispering in the centre；
some went homeward alone； wrapt in silent meditation； some talked
loudly； and profaned the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter。
A few shook their sagacious heads； intimating that they could
penetrate the mystery； while one or two affirmed that there was
no mystery at all； but only that Mr。 Hooper's eyes were so
weakened by the midnight lamp； as to require a shade。 After a
brief interval； forth came good Mr。 Hooper also； in the rear of
his flock。 Turning his veiled face from one group to another； he
paid due reverence to the hoary heads； saluted the middle aged
with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide； greeted
the young with mingled authority and love； and laid his hands on
the little children's heads to bless them。 Such was always his
custom on the Sabbath day。 Strange and bewildered looks repaid
him for his courtesy。 None； as on former occasions； aspired to
the honor of walking by their pastor's side。 Old Squire Saunders；
doubtless by an accidental lapse of memory； neglected to invite
Mr。 Hooper to his table； where the good clergyman had been wont
to bless the food； almost every Sunday since his settlement。 He
returned； therefore； to the parsonage； and； at the moment of
closing the door； was observed to look back upon the people； all
of whom had their eyes fixed upon the minister。 A sad smile
gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil； and flickered about
his mouth； glimmering as he disappeared。
〃How strange；〃 said a lady； 〃that a simple black veil； such as
any woman might wear on her bonnet； should become such a terrible
thing on Mr。 Hooper's face！〃
〃Something must surely be amiss with Mr。 Hooper's intellects；〃
observed her husband； the physician of the village。 〃But the
strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary； even
on a sober…minded man like myself。 The black veil； though it
covers only our pastor's face； throws its influence over his
whole person； and makes him ghostlike from head to foot。 Do you
not feel it so？〃
〃Truly do I；〃 replied the lady； 〃and I would not be alone with
him for the world。 I wonder he is not afraid to be alone with
himself！〃
〃Men sometimes are so；〃 said her husband。
The afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances。 At
its conclusion； the bell tolled for the funeral of a young lady。
The relatives and friends were assembled in the house； and the
more distant acquaintances stood about the door； speaking of the
good qualities of the deceased； when their talk was interrupted
by the appearance of Mr。 Hooper； still covered with his black
veil。 It was now an appropriate emblem。 The clergyman stepped
into the room where the corpse was laid； and bent over the
coffin； to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner。 As
he stooped； the veil hung straight down from his forehead； so
that； if her eyelids had not been closed forever； the dead maiden
might have seen his face。 Could Mr。 Hooper be fearful of her
glance； that he so hastily caught back the black veil？ A person
who watched the interview between the dead and living； scrupled
not to affirm； that； at the instant when the clergyman's features
were disclosed； the corpse had slightly shuddered； rustling the
shroud and muslin cap； though the countenance retained the
composure of death。 A superstitious old woman was the only
witness of this prodigy。 From the coffin Mr。 Hooper passed into
the chamber of the mourners； and thence to the head of the
staircase； to make the funeral prayer。 It was a tender and
heart…dissolving prayer； full of sorrow； yet so imbued with
celestial hopes； that the music of a heavenly harp； swept by the
fingers of the dead； seemed faintly to be heard among the saddest
accents of the minister。 The people trembled； though they but
darkly understood him when he prayed that they； and himself； and
all of mortal race； might be ready； as he trusted this young
maiden had been； for the dreadful hour that should snatch the
veil from their faces。 The bearers went heavily forth； and the
mourners followed； saddening all the street； with the dead before
them； and Mr。 Hooper in his black veil behind。
〃Why do you look back？〃 said one in the procession to his
partner。
〃I had a fancy；〃 replied she； 〃that the minister and the maiden's
spirit were walking hand in hand。〃
〃And so had I； at the same moment；〃 said the other。
That night； the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be
joined in wedlock。 Though reckoned a melancholy man； Mr。 Hooper
had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions； which often excited
a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been
thrown away。 There was no quality of his disposition which made
him more beloved than this。 The company at the wedding awaited
his arrival with impatience； trusting that the strange awe； which
had gathered over him throughout the day； would now be dispelled。
But such was not the result。 When Mr。 Hooper came； the first
thing that their eyes rested on was the same horrible black veil；
which had added deeper gloom to the funeral； and could portend
nothing but evil to the wedding。 Such was its immediate effect on
the guests that a cloud seemed to have rolled duskily from
beneath the black crape； and dimmed the light of the candles。 The
bridal pair stood up before the minister。 But the bride's cold
fingers quivered in the tremulous hand of the bridegroom； and her
deathlike paleness caused a whisper that the maiden who had been
buried a few hours before was come from her grave to be married。
If ever another wedding were so dismal； it was that famous one
where they tolled the wedding knell。 After performing the
ceremony； Mr。 Hooper raised a glass of wine to his lips； wishing
happiness to the new…married couple in a strain of mild pleasantry
that ought to have brightened the features of the guests； like a
cheerful gleam from the hearth。 At that instant； catching a
glimpse of his figure in the looking…glass； the black veil
involved his own spirit in the horror with which it overwhelmed
all others。 His frame shuddered； his lips grew white； he spilt
the untasted wine upon the carpet； and rushed forth into the
darkness。 For the Earth； too； had on her Black Veil。
The next day； the whole village of Milford talked of little else
than Parson Hooper's black veil。 That； and the mystery concealed
behind it； supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances
meeting in the street； and good women gossiping at their open
windows。 It was the first item of news that the tavern