peopledrovehimthence。Itgrievedhim，totheverydepthofhiskind
　　heart，toobservehowthechildrenfledfromhisapproach，breakingup
　　theirmerriestsports，whilehismelancholyfigurewasyetafaroff。
　　Theirinstinctivedreadcausedhimtofeelmorestronglythanaught
　　else，thatapreternaturalhorrorwasinterwovenwiththethreadsof
　　theblackcrape。Intruth，hisownantipathytotheveilwasknown
　　tobesogreat，thatheneverwillinglypassedbeforeamirror，nor
　　stoopedtodrinkatastillfountain，lest，initspeacefulbosom，
　　heshouldbeaffrightedbyhimself。Thiswaswhatgaveplausibilityto
　　thewhispers，thatMr。Hooper’sconsciencetorturedhimforsomegreat
　　crimetoohorribletobeentirelyconcealed，orotherwisethanso
　　obscurelyintimated。Thus，frombeneaththeblackveil，thererolleda
　　cloudintothesunshine，anambiguityofsinorsorrow，which
　　envelopedthepoorminister，sothatloveorsympathycouldnever
　　reachhim。Itwassaidthatghostandfiendconsortedwithhim
　　there。Withself-shudderingsandoutwardterrors，hewalked
　　continuallyinitsshadow，gropingdarklywithinhisownsoul，or
　　gazingthroughamediumthatsaddenedthewholeworld。Eventhe
　　lawlesswind，itwasbelieved，respectedhisdreadfulsecret，and
　　neverblewasidetheveil。ButstillgoodMr。Hoopersadlysmiledat
　　thepalevisagesoftheworldlythrongashepassedby。
　　Amongallitsbadinfluences，theblackveilhadtheone
　　desirableeffect，ofmakingitsweareraveryefficientclergyman。
　　Bytheaidofhismysteriousemblem-fortherewasnootherapparent
　　cause-hebecameamanofawfulpoweroversoulsthatwereinagony
　　forsin。Hisconvertsalwaysregardedhimwithadreadpeculiarto
　　themselves，affirming，thoughbutfiguratively，that，beforehe
　　broughtthemtocelestiallight，theyhadbeenwithhimbehindthe
　　blackveil。Itsgloom，indeed，enabledhimtosympathizewithalldark
　　affections。DyingsinnerscriedaloudforMr。Hooper，andwouldnot
　　yieldtheirbreathtillheappeared；thoughever，ashestoopedto
　　whisperconsolation，theyshudderedattheveiledfacesoneartheir
　　own。Suchweretheterrorsoftheblackveil，evenwhenDeathhad
　　baredhisvisage！Strangerscamelongdistancestoattendserviceat
　　hischurch，withthemereidlepurposeofgazingathisfigure，
　　becauseitwasforbiddenthemtobeholdhisface。Butmanyweremade
　　toquakeeretheydeparted！Once，duringGovernorBelcher’s
　　administration，Mr。Hooperwasappointedtopreachtheelection
　　sermon。Coveredwithhisblackveil，hestoodbeforethechief
　　magistrate，thecouncil，andtherepresentatives，andwroughtso
　　deepanimpressionthatthelegislativemeasuresofthatyearwere
　　characterizedbyallthegloomandpietyofourearliestancestral
　　sway。
　　InthismannerMr。Hooperspentalonglife，irreproachablein
　　outwardact，yetshroudedindismalsuspicions；kindandloving，
　　thoughunloved，anddimlyfeared；amanapartfrommen，shunnedin
　　theirhealthandjoy，buteversummonedtotheiraidinmortal
　　anguish。Asyearsworeon，sheddingtheirsnowsabovehissable
　　veil，heacquiredanamethroughouttheNewEnglandchurches，andthey
　　calledhimFatherHooper。Nearlyallhisparishioners，whowereof
　　matureagewhenhewassettled，hadbeenborneawaybymanyafuneral：
　　hehadonecongregationinthechurch，andamorecrowdedoneinthe
　　churchyard；andhavingwroughtsolateintotheevening，anddone
　　hisworksowell，itwasnowgoodFatherHooper’sturntorest。
　　Severalpersonswerevisiblebytheshadedcandle-light，inthe
　　deathchamberoftheoldclergyman。Naturalconnectionshehadnone。
　　Buttherewasthedecorouslygrave，thoughunmovedphysician，
　　seekingonlytomitigatethelastpangsofthepatientwhomhecould
　　notsave。Therewerethedeacons，andothereminentlypiousmembersof
　　hischurch。There，also，wastheReverendMr。Clark，ofWestbury，a
　　youngandzealousdivine，whohadriddeninhastetopraybythe
　　bedsideoftheexpiringminister。Therewasthenurse，nohired
　　handmaidenofdeath，butonewhosecalmaffectionhadenduredthus
　　longinsecrecy，insolitude，amidthechillofage，andwouldnot
　　perish，evenatthedyinghour。Who，butElizabeth！Andtherelay
　　thehoaryheadofgoodFatherHooperuponthedeathpillow，withthe
　　blackveilstillswathedabouthisbrow，andreachingdownoverhis
　　face，sothateachmoredifficultgaspofhisfaintbreathcausedit
　　tostir。Allthroughlifethatpieceofcrapehadhungbetweenhimand
　　theworld：ithadseparatedhimfromcheerfulbrotherhoodand
　　woman’slove，andkepthiminthatsaddestofallprisons，hisown
　　heart；andstillitlayuponhisface，asiftodeepenthegloomof
　　hisdarksomechamber，andshadehimfromthesunshineofeternity。
　　Forsometimeprevious，hismindhadbeenconfused，wavering
　　doubtfullybetweenthepastandthepresent，andhoveringforward，
　　asitwere，atintervals，intotheindistinctnessoftheworldto
　　come。Therehadbeenfeverishturns，whichtossedhimfromsideto
　　side，andworeawaywhatlittlestrengthhehad。Butinhismost
　　convulsivestruggles，andinthewildestvagariesofhisintellect，
　　whennootherthoughtretaineditssoberinfluence，hestillshowedan
　　awfulsolicitudelesttheblackveilshouldslipaside。Evenifhis
　　bewilderedsoulcouldhaveforgotten，therewasafaithfulwomanat
　　hispillow，who，withavertedeyes，wouldhavecoveredthatagedface，
　　whichshehadlastbeheldinthecomelinessofmanhood。Atlength
　　thedeath-strickenoldmanlayquietlyinthetorporofmentaland
　　bodilyexhaustion，withanimperceptiblepulse，andbreaththatgrew
　　fainterandfainter，exceptwhenalong，deep，andirregular
　　inspirationseemedtopreludetheflightofhisspirit。
　　TheministerofWestburyapproachedthebedside。
　　“VenerableFatherHooper。”saidhe，“themomentofyourrelease
　　isathand。Areyoureadyfortheliftingoftheveilthatshutsin
　　timefrometernity？”
　　FatherHooperatfirstrepliedmerelybyafeeblemotionofhis
　　head；then，apprehensive，perhaps，thathismeaningmightbedoubtful，
　　heexertedhimselftospeak。
　　“Yea。”saidhe，infaintaccents，“mysoulhathapatientweariness
　　untilthatveilbelifted。”
　　“Andisitfitting。”resumedtheReverendMr。Clark，“thatamanso
　　giventoprayer，ofsuchablamelessexample，holyindeedand
　　thought，sofarasmortaljudgmentmaypronounce；isitfittingthata
　　fatherinthechurchshouldleaveashadowonhismemory，thatmay
　　seemtoblackenalifesopure？Iprayyou，myvenerablebrother，
　　letnotthisthingbe！Sufferustobegladdenedbyyourtriumphant
　　aspectasyougotoyourreward。Beforetheveilofeternitybe
　　lifted，letmecastasidethisblackveilfromyourface！”
　　Andthusspeaking，theReverendMr。Clarkbentforwardtoreveal
　　themysteryofsomanyyears。But，exertingasuddenenergy，thatmade
　　allthebeholdersstandaghast，FatherHoopersnatchedbothhis
　　handsfrombeneaththebedclothes，andpressedthemstronglyonthe
　　blackveil，resolutetostruggle，iftheministerofWestburywould
　　contendwithadyingman。
　　“Never！”criedtheveiledclergyman。“Onearth，never！”
　　“Darkoldman！”exclaimedtheaffrightedminister，“withwhat
　　horriblecrimeuponyoursoulareyounowpassingtothejudgment？”
　　FatherHooper’sbreathheaved；itrattledinhisthroat；but，
　　withamightyeffort，graspingforwardwithhishands，hecaught
　　holdoflife，andhelditbacktillheshouldspeak。Heevenraised
　　himselfinbed；andtherehesat，shiveringwiththearmsofdeath
　　aroundhim，whiletheblackveilhungdown，awfulatthatlastmoment，
　　inthegatheredterrorsofalifetime。Andyetthefaint，sadsmile，
　　sooftenthere，nowseemedtoglimmerfromitsobscurity，andlinger
　　onFatherHooper’slips。
　　“Whydoyoutrembleatmealone？”criedhe，turninghisveiledface
　　roundthecircleofpalespectators。“Tremblealsoateachother！Have
　　menavoidedme，andwomenshownnopity，andchildrenscreamedand
　　fled，onlyformyblackveil？What，butthemysterywhichitobscurely
　　typifies，hasmadethispieceofcrapesoawful？Whenthefriendshows
　　hisinmosthearttohisfriend；thelovertohisbestbeloved；when
　　mandoesnotvainlyshrinkfromtheeyeofhisCreator，loathsomely
　　treasuringupthesecretofhissin；thendeemmeamonster，forthe
　　symbolbeneathwhichIhavelived，anddie！Ilookaroundme，and，lo！
　　oneveryvisageaBlackVeil！”
　　Whilehisauditorsshrankfromoneanother，inmutualaffright，
　　FatherHooperfellbackuponhispillow，aveiledcorpse，withafaint
　　smilelingeringonthelips。Stillveiled，theylaidhiminhis
　　coffin，andaveiledcorpsetheyborehimtothegrave。Thegrassof
　　manyyearshassprungupandwitheredonthatgrave，theburial
　　stoneismoss-grown，andgoodMr。Hooper’sfaceisdust；butawful
　　isstillthethoughtthatitmoulderedbeneaththeBlackVeil！
　　NOTE。AnotherclergymaninNewEngland，Mr。JosephMoody，of
　　York，Maine，whodiedabouteightyyearssince，madehimself
　　remarkablebythesameeccentricitythatishererelatedofthe
　　ReverendMr。Hooper。Inhiscase，however，thesymbolhada
　　differentimport。Inearlylifehehadaccidentallykilledabeloved
　　friend；andfromthatdaytillthehourofhisowndeath，hehidhis
　　facefrommen。
　　byNathanielHawthorne
　　BUTTHISPAINTER！”criedWalterLudlow，withanimation。“Henot
　　onlyexcelsinhispeculiarart，butpossessesvastacquirementsin
　　allotherlearningandscience。HetalksHebrewwithDr。Mather，and
　　giveslecturesinanatomytoDr。Boylston。Inaword，hewillmeetthe
　　bestinstructedmanamongusonhisownground。Moreover，heisa
　　polishedgentleman-acitizenoftheworld-yes，atruecosmopolite；
　　forhewillspeaklikeanativeofeachclimeandcountryoftheglobe
　　exceptourownforests，whitherheisnowgoing。Norisallthis
　　whatImostadmireinhim。”
　　“Indeed！”saidElinor，whohadlistenedwithawoman’sinterest
　　tothedescriptionofsuchaman。“Yetthisisadmirableenough。”
　　“Surelyitis。”repliedherlover，“butfarlesssothanhis
　　naturalgiftofadaptinghimselftoeveryvarietyofcharacter，
　　insomuchthatallmen-andallwomentoo，Elinor-shallfinda
　　mirrorofthemselvesinthiswonderfulpainter。Butthegreatest
　　wonderisyettobetold。”
　　“Nay，ifhehavemorewonderfulattributesthanthese。”said
　　Elinor，laughing，“Bostonisaperilousabodeforthepoor
　　gentleman。Areyoutellingmeofapainterorawizard？”
　　“Intruth。”answeredhe，thatquestionmightbeaskedmuchmore
　　seriouslythanyousuppose。Theysaythathepaintsnotmerelyaman’s
　　features，buthismindandheart。Hecatchesthesecretsentimentsand
　　passions，andthrowsthemuponthecanvas，likesunshine-or
　　perhaps，intheportraitsofdark-souledmen，likeagleamofinfernal
　　fire。Itisanawfulgift。”addedWalter，loweringhisvoicefrom
　　itstoneofenthusiasm。“Ishallbealmostafraidtosittohim。”
　　“Walter，areyouinearnest？”exclaimedElinor。
　　“ForHeaven’ssake，dearestElinor，donotlethimpaintthelook
　　whichyounowwear。”saidherlover，smiling，thoughratherperplexed。
　　“There：itispassingawaynow，butwhenyouspokeyouseemed
　　frightenedtodeath，andverysadbesides。Whatwereyouthinkingof？”
　　“Nothing，nothing。”answeredElinorhastily。“Youpaintmyface
　　withyourownfantasies。Well，comeformetomorrow，andwewillvisit
　　thiswonderfulartist。”