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。”