第54章

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。Therewer