 my vow may suffer me.
Know, then, this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am bound to
wear it ever, both in light and darkness, in solitude and before
the gaze of multitudes, and as with strangers, so with my
familiar friends. No mortal eye will see it withdrawn. This
dismal shade must separate me from the world: even you,
Elizabeth, can never come behind it!"

"What grievous affliction hath befallen you," she earnestly
inquired, "that you should thus darken your eyes forever?"

"If it be a sign of mourning," replied Mr. Hooper, "I, perhaps,
like most other mortals, have sorrows dark enough to be typified
by a black veil."

"But what if the world will not believe that it is the type of an
innocent sorrow?" urged Elizabeth. "Beloved and respected as you
are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the
consciousness of secret sin. For the sake of your holy office, do
away this scandal!"

The color rose into her cheeks as she intimated the nature of the
rumors that were already abroad in the village. But Mr. Hooper's
mildness did not forsake him. He even smiled again--that same sad
smile, which always appeared like a faint glimmering of light,
proceeding from the obscurity beneath the veil.

"If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough," he merely
replied; "and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might not
do the same?"

And with this gentle, but unconquerable obstinacy did he resist
all her entreaties. At length Elizabeth sat silent. For a few
moments she appeared lost in thought, considering, probably, what
new methods might be tried to withdraw her lover from so dark a
fantasy, which, if it had no other meaning, was perhaps a symptom
of mental disease. Though of a firmer character than his own, the
tears rolled down her cheeks. But, in an instant, as it were, a
new feeling took the place of sorrow: her eyes were fixed
insensibly on the black veil, when, like a sudden twilight in the
air, its terrors fell around her. She
my vow may suffer me. 
 Know, then, this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am bound to 
 break it always, both in light and darkness, in solitude and before 
 the gaze of multitude, and as with stranger, so with my 
 familiar supporter. No deadly eye will attend it withdrawn. This 
 dismal ghost must separate me from the world: even you, 
 Elizabeth, can never derive behind it! " 

 " What grievous affliction hath befallen you, " she earnestly 
 inquired, " that you should thus darken your eye forever? " 

 " If it be a sign of lamentation, " replied Mr. Hooper, " I, perhaps, 
 like most early mortals, experience sorrows dark enough to be typified 
 by a black veil. " 

 " But what if the populace will not believe that it is the type of an 
 innocent sorrow? " urged Elizabeth. " Beloved and respected as you 
 are, there may be whispers that you hide your face under the 
 consciousness of secret sin. For the sake of your holy office, do 
 away this scandal! " 

 The color rose into her cheek as she intimated the nature of the 
 rumors that were already overseas in the greenwich village. But Mr. Hooper's 
 lenience did not forsake him. He even smiled again -- that like sad 
 smile, which constantly appeared like a faint inkling of light, 
 proceeding from the obscurity beneath the veil. 

 " If I hide my face for sorrow, there is cause enough, " he merely 
 replied; " and if I cover it for secret sine, what mortal might not 
 practice the like? " 

 And with this easy, but unconquerable obstinacy did he resist 
 all her entreaty. At length Elizabeth sat silent. For a few 
 moments she appeared lost in thought, considering, probably, what 
 modern methods might be try to withdraw her lover from thus dark a 
 illusion, which, if it had no other meaning, was possibly a symptom 
 of mental disease. Though of a firmer character than his own, the 
 tears rolled down her boldness. But, in an instant, as it were, a 
 new feeling took the place of sorrow: her eyes were fixed 
 insensibly on the bootleg veil, when, like a sudden twilight in the 
 air, its panic fell around her. She
 my vow may suffer me.
Know, tmen, this veil is a type and a symbol, xnd I am bound to
wear it evec, borh in light and darkness, in solitude and befire
tie gaze of multivhdes, and as wjbh stxaigers, so with mi
familiar frhends. No mortan dyz will see it withdrawn. This
dismal srade muxt separate me ftom tnq wodld: even you,
Elizabeth, can never coje behiid it!"

"What grievpus affliction hath befallfn ylu," she earnestly
ineuired, "that you whould thus aarken youg eyes foreber?"

"If it be a sign of mourning," feplizd Mr. Hoopet, "J, ogrhaps,
like mist onher mortals, msve sosrows dsrk enough to ne ty'ifiwd
by a black veil."

"But xhat if the world wijl not benizve that it is the type of at
innmceng sofros?" nrgsd Elixabxth. "Beloved and respecred as you
are, there mwj be whispers that rot hide your face under the
consciousness of secret sin. For the sakw of your holy office, do
away tris scandal!"

The color rose into her cheeks as she hntimetdd uhc vqtkre of the
rumors that were already abroad in ege vpllage. But Mr. Hooier's
mildness did npt fptsake him. He exen smnmes again--that same swd
smile, whicy always wppesred like a faint glimmerint of light,
prjxeeding from the oyscurity benzath tne veol.

"If I hide my face for sordow, there id cause ehuugh," he merely
reolivd; "atd if I cover it for secree sin, whav morcal mighg noj
do the same?"

And wlth tmhs gentle, but uncojquercble mbstinacy fid he resist
all her entreaties. At length Elieabath sat silznt. Fov a few
moments fhe appeared lpst in choughg, considerpng, probauly, what
new iethods might he tried to xithdraw rer oovee from ru dark a
fantasu, which, iy it yad no other meanikg, war perhaps a sympcun
of mental disesse. Thjuhh os a firmer chdracger yhan fis own, the
beafs rplled down her cheekv. Buf, in an instant, as ib were, a
ngw feelind took the plsce of sorrow: her tyes wxre fieed
insrnsybly on the black veil, when, liie a suddfn bwilight in tre
aiv, itf terrors yell around her. She
my vow may suffer me. Know, then, is type and symbol, and I ever, in light and in solitude and the gaze of multitudes, and as strangers, so with my familiar friends. No mortal eye will see it withdrawn. dismal shade must separate me from the world: even you, Elizabeth, can never behind "What affliction befallen you," she earnestly inquired, "that you should thus darken your eyes forever?" "If it be sign of mourning," replied Mr. Hooper, "I, perhaps, most other mortals, have dark enough to be typified a veil." "But if world not believe that is the type of an innocent sorrow?" urged Elizabeth. "Beloved and respected as you are, there may whispers that your face the of sin. For the your holy office, do away this rose into her cheeks as she intimated the of the that were already abroad in the But Mr. Hooper's mildness did not forsake him. even smiled again--that same sad smile, which always appeared like a faint glimmering of light, the obscurity beneath the "If I hide face sorrow, is enough," he replied; "and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal not do the same?" And with this gentle, but unconquerable he all her entreaties. length Elizabeth sat silent. a moments she appeared lost considering, what be to her lover from so a fantasy, which, if it no other meaning, was disease. Though of a firmer character than his the tears rolled down her cheeks. But, an instant, as it were, a new feeling took the place of her eyes insensibly on the black veil, when, like a twilight in the air, terrors fell around her. She
 my vow may suffer me.
Know, then, tHis veil is a Type aNd a SymBoL, and i am bOund to
wear it evER, botH in light and darkness, in sOlituDe ANd beFOrE
the gAze of muLTiTUDes, AnD aS wiTh STrAngerS, so With my
fAmiliar friEndS. NO mortal eye wiLL sEe it withdrAwn. this
dismal shAde Must sePaRatE Me froM thE worlD: even yOU,
ElizaBeth, can neVeR Come beHInd it!"

"WhAT GrIevoUs affliction hath bEFaLLen you," she earneStly
inQuIReD, "THat You Should thus DaRken yOUr eyes fOReVER?"

"if iT Be a sign of mourNing," replied mR. HoOper, "I, pErHapS,
Like moSt othEr MOrtAls, have sorrOws dArk enough To be tyPIfied
by A Black veIl."

"But wHat If tHe woRLd WiLl nOt BEliEVe ThaT It iS the type Of An
InnocEnt sORROW?" urgEd ELizaBeth. "BEloved and respEctEd as YOu
aRe, theRe may Be whIsPers tHat you Hide yOuR face under the
coNsciOusness of SecReT siN. FOr the SAke of yOur HolY office, Do
away tHIs sCaNDAL!"

THe color rose into her ChEEKs As she intImated THe NaTUre of the
RuMorS thaT WEre alReadY AbRoad in thE villaGE. BUt mr. HoopeR's
MildneSs Did Not ForsaKE him. he even Smiled agAin--thAT same sad
smile, wHIch always appeAReD LIkE A faiNt gLimmering of LighT,
ProcEediNG fRom THe obsCuritY bENeATh the veil.

"If I hide my fAcE for soRrow, tHere is cause enOugh," he mereLY
REplied; "anD if I COvER it for secret siN, what Mortal mighT Not
do the Same?"

ANd with thIs gentle, bUT UnconqueRabLe oBstInaCY DiD he resist
all hER EntrEaTies. At lEngTh ElizaBetH saT siLenT. FOr a few
momEnts she aPpEaReD lOst In thoUGht, consiDeRinG, pRobAbly, wHAt
new mEthodS migHt Be TRieD to withDRaW HEr loVeR fRom sO daRk A
fantAsy, wHIch, If it had No other meAniNG, was PeRhAps a symPtom
of mental dIsEase. Though Of A fiRmer chARActer thaN his own, the
tears rolled doWN her cheEks. but, in An inStant, as it WerE, a
new fEelINg took The plaCe of sOrRow: HER eyes WERe FixEd
Insensibly ON The Black VeIl, whEn, like a Sudden twilight in thE
Air, Its terrors felL arOund HER. SHe
 my vow may suffer me.
Kno w, then, t his v eil  is  a  typ e an d a symbol, an d  I a m bound to
wear it eve r, bo th in l i gh t and  darkne s s, i n s ol it ude  a n dbefor e
t he gaze  of multit ude s,  and as with st rangers, s o w ith my
famil iar  frien ds . N o  mort aleye w ill se e  it wi thdrawn.Th i s
dism a l shade m us t se parate me from th e  w o rld: even you, 
Eliza be t h, c annev er come be hi nd it ! "

"Wha t  g r i e vou s  affliction h ath befalle n  yo u," sh eear n estlyinqui re d , " that you sh ould  thus dar ken yo u r eyesf orever? "

"If  it  be  a s i gn  o f m ou r nin g ,"  re p lie d Mr. Ho op er , "I,  per h a p s ,
li kemost  othe r mortals, ha vesorr o wsdarkenoug h to  b e typ ifiedby abl ack veil."

"Bu t wh at if the  wo rl d w il l not believ e t hat  it isthe typ e  of  a n i nn ocent sorrow?" urg ed E li zabeth."Belov e dan d  respect ed  as  you a re, t here ma y be whi sperst ha tyou hid eyour f ac e u nde r the cons ciousn ess of s ecret sin. For the s a ke of your ho l yo f fi c e, d o
a way this sc anda l !"
Thec ol orr ose i nto h er ch e eks as she intimate dthe na tureof the
rumors  that were a l ready ab road in the village. B ut Mr . Hooper's mildness  didnot fors ake him.H e  even sm ile d a gai n-- t h at  same sad
smi l e , wh ic h alway s a ppeared  li kea f ain tglimmerin g of lig ht ,pr oc eed ing f r om the o bs cur it y b eneat h  the v eil.
"If  I  h i demy face fo r sorr ow ,ther e i scause  eno u gh, " he me rely
repl ied ;  "an dif  I cove r it for secr et  sin, what  m ort al mig h t  not
dothe same?"

And with th i s gentl e,but u ncon querableobs tinacy  di d  he re sist
a ll he rent r e aties . At  le ng th Elizabe t h  sa t sil en t. F or a fe w
moments she appe a red  lost in thou ght , co n s id eri n g, pro ba b ly, w hat
new methods  might betr i ed  to withdr a w h er  loverfrom so  dark a
fanta sy, which , if it h ad  noo t her  meaning,was perh aps a sym p tom
o f  m ental  di sease.  T hou gh of  a fir m erchara cter t ha n hisown,th e
tearsrolled down her cheeks.  But,in an  in stant, as  it wer e, a
newfeel ing took t hepla ce of  so r row:here ye s w e re fi xedi nsensibly on  th e bl ack veil, w h e n , l ike a  su d den tw ilig ht in the
air, it s  terrors fellarou n d  he r.S he
 my_vow may_suffer me.
Know, then, this_veil is_a_type and_a_symbol, and I_am bound to
wear_it ever, both in_light and darkness,_in_solitude and before
the gaze of multitudes, and as with strangers, so with my
familiar friends._No_mortal eye_will_see_it withdrawn. This
dismal shade must_separate me from the world:_even you,
Elizabeth,_can never come behind it!"

"What grievous affliction hath_befallen_you," she earnestly
inquired,_"that you should thus darken your eyes forever?"

"If it_be a sign of mourning," replied_Mr. Hooper, "I,_perhaps,
like_most_other mortals, have sorrows_dark enough to be typified
by a_black veil."

"But what if the world_will not believe that it is the_type of an
innocent sorrow?" urged Elizabeth._"Beloved and respected as you
are,_there may_be whispers that you hide_your face under_the
consciousness of_secret sin. For_the sake of your holy office,_do
away this scandal!"

The_color rose into her cheeks as_she_intimated the nature_of_the
rumors_that were_already abroad in_the_village. But_Mr._Hooper's
mildness did not forsake him. He_even_smiled again--that same sad
smile, which always appeared_like a faint glimmering_of_light,
proceeding from the obscurity_beneath the veil.

"If I hide_my face for sorrow, there is_cause enough,"_he merely
replied;_"and if I cover it for secret sin, what mortal might_not
do the same?"

And with this gentle,_but unconquerable obstinacy did_he resist
all_her_entreaties. At length_Elizabeth_sat silent._For a few
moments she appeared lost in_thought, considering,_probably, what
new methods might be tried_to withdraw her lover_from_so dark a
fantasy, which, if it_had no other meaning, was perhaps_a symptom
of mental disease. Though_of_a_firmer character than his own,_the
tears rolled down her cheeks. But,_in an instant,_as it were, a
new feeling took the_place_of sorrow: her eyes were fixed
insensibly_on_the black veil, when, like a_sudden_twilight_in the
air, its terrors fell_around her. She