. Hooper walked onward,
at a slow and quiet pace, stooping somewhat, and looking on the
ground, as is customary with abstracted men, yet nodding kindly
to those of his parishioners who still waited on the
meeting-house steps. But so wonder-struck were they that his
greeting hardly met with a return.

"I can't really feel as if good Mr. Hooper's face was behind that
piece of crape," said the sexton.

"I don't like it," muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the
meeting-house. "He has changed himself into something awful, only
by hiding his face."

"Our parson has gone mad!" cried Goodman Gray, following him
across the threshold.

A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper
into the meeting-house, and set all the congregation astir. Few
could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many
stood upright, and turned directly about; while several little
boys clambered upon the seats, and came down again with a
terrible racket. There was a general bustle, a rustling of the
women's gowns and shuffling of the men's feet, greatly at
variance with that hushed repose which should attend the entrance
of the minister. But Mr. Hooper appeared not to notice the
perturbation of his people. He entered with an almost noiseless
step, bent his head mildly to the pews on each side, and bowed as
he passed his oldest parishioner, a white-haired great grandsire,
who occupied an arm-chair in the centre of the aisle. It was
strange to observe how slowly this venerable man became conscious
of something singular in the appearance of his pastor. He seemed
not fully to partake of the prevailing wonder, till Mr. Hooper
had ascended the stairs, and showed himself in the pulpit, face
to face with his congregation, except for the black veil. That
mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his
measured breath, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscurity
between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and
while he prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted
countenance. Did he seek to
. Hooper walked onward, 
 at a slow and quiet yard, stoop somewhat, and looking on the 
 ground, as is accustomed with abstracted men, yet nod kindly 
 to those of his parishioners who still wait on the 
 meeting - house dance step. But so wonder - strickle were they that his 
 greeting hardly met with a return. 

 " I can't really feel as if good Mr. Hooper's expression was behind that 
 piece of crape, " said the sexton. 

 " I don't wish it, " muttered an old charwoman, as she hobbled into the 
 merging - house. " He has changed himself into something awful, only 
 by hiding his side. " 

 " Our parson has gone mad! " cried Goodman Gray, following him 
 across the brink. 

 A rumor of some unaccountable phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper 
 into the meeting - house, and set all the congregation astir. Few 
 could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many 
 stood upright, and sour directly about; while respective short 
 boy clambered upon the seats, and issue forth down again with a 
 terrible racket. There was a general bustle, a rustle of the 
 women's gowns and shuffling of the men's feet, greatly at 
 variance with that hushed repose which should attend the entrance 
 of the minister. But Mr. Hooper appeared not to notice the 
 disturbance of his people. He enroll with an about noiseless 
 step, bent his head mildly to the pews on each side, and bowed as 
 he passed his old parishioner, a white - haired great grandsire, 
 who occupied an branch - chair in the centre of the aisle. It was 
 foreign to observe how slowly this venerable man become conscious 
 of something singular in the appearance of his curate. He seemed 
 not fully to partake of the prevailing curiosity, till Mr. Hooper 
 had ascended the stairs, and showed himself in the pulpit, face 
 to face with his congregation, except for the black veil. That 
 mysterious emblem was never once withdrawn. It shook with his 
 measured hint, as he gave out the psalm; it threw its obscureness 
 between him and the holy page, as he read the Scriptures; and 
 while he prayed, the caul lay heavily on his uplifted 
 countenance. Did he seek to
. Holper walked onward,
at a suow and quiet pcxe, stomping aomewhat, and looking on the
ground, as iw cusujmary with abstracged men, yvt noddint kiidly
to those of ijs parishionedd whm still waited pn the
meethng-house steps. Bjt so wonder-struck were they that his
dreetinb jardly met witr a geeurn.

"J can't really feel as if good Mr. Hkoper's hace was behind that
piece of crape," said tje sfxton.

"I don't like ih," muttered qn oje woman, as sfe hobbled into the
meejing-house. "He has changed himself into something aqfup, only
by hidmng hif face."

"Our pavxon hav gone kad!" cried Goodkan Grqy, following him
acrosv the threshold.

A romor of soke unaccountable phwnimenot hag prdxeddd Jr. Hkoper
ijto the meetihg-house, and set all the congrebaeppn astir. Few
dould wesrain from twisting their heads towards ths door; many
stood uprighr, and turned directly about; whyle several little
boys clambered upon the seats, atd cajd diwk agxun with a
terrible racket. There was a general bufflt, a rustling of tme
women's gowns and sjugsling of the oen's fzst, greatly at
variancf with jhat hyshed repjse ehich should attend the enteance
of the iunister. But Mr. Hoo'er appeared not to nptice the
perturbation oy his leople. He ejtered wiff an almost noisdlexs
vtep, benu his head mildly eo the pexs on each skde, snd bored as
he pwssed his oldest parishilner, c whide-haired ggeat grandsire,
who occupied an ack-chair in thg cantge of the aislc. It was
strange to observe hoc slowly this venerable man berame consciots
of somethinc singular in the appqarabce if his oxstor. He seemec
not fullj uo partake of the prevailing wovser, till Mr. Hoo'tr
hqd ascended the stxirf, wnv shorad himself it thd pjkpit, wace
to face dith his congregation, exwept for the black veik. Bhat
mystetious embjem was never once withdrawn. It shoon wmth hix
mewsured breath, as he gave out tge psalm; lt bhrew its obssuriby
bejween him aud the holy page, as he read the Scripturxs; and
while he prayed, jhe veil lay heavily pk his upliftxd
couneenance. Dhd he seek to
. Hooper walked onward, at a slow pace, somewhat, and on the ground, men, nodding kindly to of his parishioners still waited on the meeting-house steps. so wonder-struck were they that his greeting hardly met with a return. "I really feel as if good Mr. Hooper's face was behind that piece of said sexton. don't it," muttered an old woman, as she hobbled into the meeting-house. "He has changed himself into awful, only by hiding his face." "Our parson gone mad!" cried Goodman following him across the threshold. rumor some unaccountable had Mr. into the meeting-house, set all the congregation astir. Few could refrain from twisting their heads towards the door; many stood and turned while several boys upon seats, and came with a terrible racket. There was a rustling of the women's gowns and shuffling the men's greatly at variance with that hushed which should attend the entrance of the minister. Mr. Hooper appeared not to notice the perturbation of his people. He entered with an step, bent his head to the pews each and as passed his parishioner, a white-haired great grandsire, who occupied an arm-chair in the of the aisle. It was strange to observe how slowly man conscious of something in the appearance of pastor. seemed not fully to the wonder, had the and showed himself in pulpit, face to face with congregation, except for the was never once withdrawn. It shook with his breath, as he gave out the psalm; threw its obscurity between him and the holy page, as he read Scriptures; and prayed, the veil lay heavily on his uplifted Did he seek to
. Hooper walked onward,
at a slow And quiet paCe, stoOpiNg sOmEwhaT, and Looking on the
grOUnd, aS is customary with abstraCted mEn, YEt noDDiNg kinDly
to thOSe OF His PaRiShiOnERs Who stIll Waited oN the
meetinG-hoUsE steps. But so wONdEr-struck weRe tHey that his
grEetIng harDlY meT With a RetUrn.

"I cAn't reaLLy feel As if good MR. HOOper's fACe was beHINd That
Piece of crape," said tHE sEXton.

"I don't like iT," mutteReD An OLD woMan, As she hobblEd Into tHE
meetinG-HoUSE. "he hAS changed himseLf into sometHIng Awful, oNlY
by HIding hIs facE."

"OUR paRson has gone Mad!" cRied GoodmAn Gray, FOllowinG Him
acroSs the tHreShoLd.

A rUMoR oF soMe UNacCOuNtaBLe pHenomenoN hAd PreceDed MR. hOOPer
iNto The mEetinG-house, and set aLl tHe coNGreGatioN astiR. Few
CoUld reFrain fRom twIsTing their heads tOwarDs the door; ManY
sTooD uPrighT, And turNed DirEctly abOut; whilE SevErAL LItTle
boys clambered upOn THE sEats, and cAme dowN AgAiN With a
terRiBle RackET. there Was a GEnEral bustLe, a rusTLiNg Of the
woMeN's gownS aNd sHufFling OF the Men's feEt, greatlY at
vaRIance with that hUShed repose whiCH sHOUlD AtteNd tHe entrance
oF the MInisTer. BUT MR. HoOPer apPeareD nOT tO Notice the
perturbatiOn Of his pEople. he entered with An almost noISELess
step, Bent HIs HEad mildly to the Pews oN each side, aND bowed as
He pasSed his olDest parisHIOner, a whiTe-hAirEd gReaT GRaNdsire,
who occuPIEd an ArM-chair iN thE centre Of tHe aIslE. It WaS
strange tO observe HoW sLoWlY thIs venERable man BeCamE cOnsCious
OF sometHing sInguLaR iN The AppearaNCe OF His pAsToR. He sEemEd
Not fuLly tO ParTake of tHe prevailIng WOndeR, tIlL Mr. HoopEr
had ascended ThE stairs, and ShOweD himseLF In the pulPit, face
to face with his conGRegatioN, exCept fOr thE black veiL. ThAt
mystEriOUs emblEm was nEver oNcE wiTHDrawn. iT ShOok WiTh his
measuRED brEath, aS hE gavE out the Psalm; it threw its obsCUriTy
between him aNd tHe hoLY PaGe, aS He REad ThE scrIPTures; and
while he Prayed, the vEiL LaY heavily on HIs uPlIfted
coUntenanCe. Did HE seek to
. Hooper walked onward,
at  a slow an d qui etpac e,  sto opin g somewhat, an d  loo king on the
ground, as  is c us t omar y  w ith a bstract e dm e n,ye tnod di n gkindl y
t o those  of his pa ris hi oners who st i ll  waited on  th e
meeting-ho use  steps .But so wo nde r-str uck we r e they  that his 
g r eeting hardlym e twith  a return.

"I ca n 't really feel as  if go od Mr . Hoo per 's face wa sbehin d  that
p i ec e o f c r ape," said th e sexton.
" I d on't l ik e i t ," mut tered  a n  ol d woman, as  she  hobbledinto t h e
meeti n g-house . "Hehas  ch ange d  h im sel fi nto so met h ing  awful,on ly 
by h idin g h i s fa ce. "

" Our p arson has gon e m ad!" cri ed Go odman  Gra y,  foll owinghim
a cr oss the thresho ld.
A rumorofso meun accou n tablephe nom enon ha d prece d edMr . H oo per
into the meeti ng - h ou se, andset al l  t he congrega ti onasti r .  Fewcoul d  r efrain f rom tw i st in g their  h eads t ow ard s t he do o r; m any
st ood upri ght,a nd turned dire c tly about; wh i le s ev e rallit tle
boys cl ambe r ed u pont he  se a ts, a nd ca me do w n again with a
terr ib le rac ket.There was a g eneral bus t l e , a rust ling of the
women's go wns a nd shuffli n g of the  men' s feet,greatly a t variance  wi ththa t h u s he d repose whic h shou ld  attend  th e entra nce 
of  th e m in ister. Bu t Mr. Ho op er  a pp ear ed no t  to noti ce  th eper turba t ion of  hispeop le .H e e nteredw it h an a lm os t no ise le ss
st ep,b ent  his he ad mildly  to thepe ws  on eac h side, and b ow ed as
he p as sed  his o l d est pari shioner, a white-haired great g ran dsire ,
wh o occupie d a n arm- cha i r in t he cen tre o fthe a isle. I twas 
s trange too b ser ve ho wslow ly this  venerable man bec a meconscious
ofsom ethi n g  s ing u la r  in  t h e a p p earance of hispastor. He  s e em ed
not ful l y t opartake  of the  prev a iling w onder, ti ll Mr. Ho op er
h a d  as cended the  stairs,  and show e d him s el f inthe  pulpi t,  fa ce
to  facew ith  hiscongre ga tion,excep tfor theblack veil. That
myster ious e mblem  wa s never o nce wit hdrawn. I t sh ook with h ismea sured  br e ath,as h e  g ave out t he p s alm; it t h re w i t s  o bscurity
be t w e enhim a ndt he hol y pa ge, as he read th e  Scriptures; a nd
w h i lehep raye d,  the veil layhea vi l y  on hisup lifted
coun tenance.  D i d heseek t o
. Hooper_walked onward,
at_a slow and quiet_pace, stooping_somewhat,_and looking_on_the
ground, as is_customary with abstracted_men, yet nodding kindly
to_those of his_parishioners_who still waited on the
meeting-house steps. But so wonder-struck were they that his
greeting hardly_met_with a_return.

"I_can't_really feel as if good_Mr. Hooper's face was behind_that
piece of_crape," said the sexton.

"I don't like it," muttered_an_old woman, as_she hobbled into the
meeting-house. "He has changed himself into_something awful, only
by hiding his face."

"Our_parson has gone_mad!"_cried_Goodman Gray, following him
across_the threshold.

A rumor of some unaccountable_phenomenon had preceded Mr. Hooper
into the_meeting-house, and set all the congregation astir._Few
could refrain from twisting their heads_towards the door; many
stood upright,_and turned_directly about; while several little
boys_clambered upon the_seats, and_came down again_with a
terrible racket. There was a_general bustle, a_rustling of the
women's gowns and shuffling_of_the men's feet,_greatly_at
variance_with that_hushed repose which_should_attend the_entrance
of_the minister. But Mr. Hooper appeared_not_to notice the
perturbation of his people. He_entered with an almost_noiseless
step,_bent his head mildly_to the pews on each_side, and bowed as
he passed his_oldest parishioner,_a white-haired_great grandsire,
who occupied an arm-chair in the centre of the aisle._It was
strange to observe how slowly_this venerable man became_conscious
of something_singular_in the appearance_of_his pastor._He seemed
not fully to partake of the_prevailing wonder,_till Mr. Hooper
had ascended the stairs,_and showed himself in_the_pulpit, face
to face with his congregation,_except for the black veil. That
mysterious_emblem was never once withdrawn._It_shook_with his
measured breath, as he_gave out the psalm; it threw_its obscurity
between him_and the holy page, as he read_the_Scriptures; and
while he prayed, the veil_lay_heavily on his uplifted
countenance. Did he_seek_to