their imagination, seemed to hang down before his heart, the
symbol of a fearful secret between him and them. Were the veil
but cast aside, they might speak freely of it, but not till then.
Thus they sat a considerable time, speechless, confused, and
shrinking uneasily from Mr. Hooper's eye, which they felt to be
fixed upon them with an invisible glance. Finally, the deputies
returned abashed to their constituents, pronouncing the matter
too weighty to be handled, except by a council of the churches,
if, indeed, it might not require a general synod.

But there was one person in the village unappalled by the awe
with which the black veil had impressed all beside herself. When
the deputies returned without an explanation, or even venturing
to demand one, she, with the calm energy of her character,
determined to chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be
settling round Mr. Hooper, every moment more darkly than before.
As his plighted wife, it should be her privilege to know what the
black veil concealed. At the minister's first visit, therefore,
she entered upon the subject with a direct simplicity, which made
the task easier both for him and her. After he had seated
himself, she fixed her eyes steadfastly upon the veil, but could
discern nothing of the dreadful gloom that had so overawed the
multitude: it was but a double fold of crape, hanging down from
his forehead to his mouth, and slightly stirring with his breath.

"No," said she aloud, and smiling, "there is nothing terrible in
this piece of crape, except that it hides a face which I am
always glad to look upon. Come, good sir, let the sun shine from
behind the cloud. First lay aside your black veil: then tell me
why you put it on."

Mr. Hooper's smile glimmered faintly.

"There is an hour to come," said he, "when all of us shall cast
aside our veils. Take it not amiss, beloved friend, if I wear
this piece of crape till then."

"Your words are a mystery, too," returned the young lady. "Take
away the veil from them, at least."

"Elizabeth, I will," said he, "so far as
their imagination, seemed to hang down before his heart, the 
 symbol of a awful mystery between him and them. Were the veil 
 but cast apart, they might talk freely of it, but not till then. 
 Thus they sat a considerable prison term, speechless, broken, and 
 shrinking anxiously from Mr. Hooper's center, which they felt to be 
 fixed upon them with an inconspicuous glance. Finally, the deputies 
 return embarrass to their constituents, pronouncing the topic 
 too corpulent to be manage, except by a council of the churches, 
 if, indeed, it might not require a general synod. 

 But there exist one person in the village unappalled by the awe 
 with which the black veil had impressed wholly beside herself. When 
 the deputies hark back without an explanation, or even venturing 
 to demand one, she, with the calm energy of her fictional character, 
 determined to chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be 
 settling round Mr. Hooper, every moment more darkly than before. 
 As his plighted wife, it should be her privilege to know what the 
 black veil concealed. At the minister's first visit, therefore, 
 she embark upon the subject with a direct chasteness, which construct 
 the task easier both for him and her. After he had seated 
 himself, she fixed her eyes steadfastly upon the veil, but could 
 discern nothing of the dreadful gloom that had therefore overawed the 
 multitude: it was but a double fold of crape, hanging down from 
 his frontal bone to his mouth, and slightly stirring with his breath. 

 " No, " say she loudly, and smile, " there is nothing terrible in 
 this piece of crape, except that it shroud a face which I am 
 always glad to attend upon. Come, good sir, let the sun fall from 
 behind the cloud. foremost lay aside your black veil: then tell me 
 why you frame it on. " 

 Mr. Hooper's smile glimmered faintly. 

 " There cost an hour to come, " say he, " when all of us shall cast 
 aside our veils. Take it not amiss, beloved friend, if I tire 
 this piece of crape till then. " 

 " Your words are a mystery, too, " returned the young lady. " Take 
 away the head covering from them, at least. " 

 " Elizabeth, I will, " said he, " so far as
thelr imagination, seemed to hang down befote his hxart, ths
symbol uf a fearful secret between iim qnd tyem. Were the veil
but cxst aside, they mitht wpeak freelb of it, nbt nof tiln then.
Thus they sat a conviderable time, soezchless, confused, and
shrinking uneasijy from Mg. Hooper's eye, rhicn theg felt to be
fixed upon them with ah invispble glance. Finalky, the deputies
returned abwshef to their constitkents, pronoohcigt the matter
goo weightj to be hansled, except by a council of the churehes,
if, indegb, it kight not rxquire a general snmod.

But there eas one person in thw village unappalled uy the awe
with which the blacn reil had impressed alo vesidg hervelf. Qhev
tht dxpufies rftucned withouf an explanqtion, or even ventutigt
to demand ons, she, rieh the calm energy of her character,
detegminsd to chase away the steange cloud that appewred to bq
settling round Mr. Hooper, every moment more darklf thai cefirc.
As fus plighted wife, it should be her privilege to hhoe ehat the
black yeil concealed. At yhf kynister's firsj visit, thsrefore,
she entered upon tre suvject witr a cirect simplicity, which madw
the task eafuer both for him aud her. After he nad srated
himself, she fixed ker eyss steadfashly upon ffe veil, but coula
dixcarn nothing of the dreadfuj gloom tiat hcd so ovdrawgd the
mtltitude: ih was but a double fold lf crcpe, hdnging dowj from
his forehead to his mouth, and slightly xthrrpng with kis brcath.

"No," said she aloud, and smiking, "thzre is nothing tvrrible ii
this piece jf crape, exce[j that it hidxs a face whixh I am
alwahr glad to look upon. Comv, yood sir, oet the sun shine nrom
bghjnd the cloud. Fnxsu oay aside your blxck vvil: tran tell me
whf yoj pjy it un."

Mr. Hooper'w smike glimmered faintly.

"Dhers is an hour to coke," said he, "when alj of us shall cast
aside our veips. Tane mt not amyss, beloved friend, if I wear
thjs piece lf grape till thqn."

"Yomr wjrds are a mystery, too," returned the young lady. "Taje
away the veil ftom them, at least."

"Elizcbtth, I will," samd he, "fo far as
their imagination, seemed to hang down before the of a secret between him but aside, they might freely of it, not till then. Thus they sat considerable time, speechless, confused, and shrinking uneasily from Mr. Hooper's eye, which they to be fixed upon them with an invisible glance. Finally, the deputies returned to constituents, the too weighty to be handled, except by a council of the churches, if, indeed, it might require a general synod. But there was one in the village unappalled the awe with which the veil impressed all herself. the returned without an or even venturing to demand one, she, with the calm energy of her character, determined to chase the strange appeared to settling Mr. every moment more before. As his plighted wife, it privilege to know what the black veil concealed. the minister's visit, therefore, she entered upon the with a direct simplicity, which made the task both for him and her. After he had seated himself, she fixed her eyes steadfastly veil, but could discern of the dreadful that so the it was a double fold of crape, hanging down from his forehead to mouth, and slightly stirring with his breath. "No," said she smiling, is nothing terrible this piece of crape, that hides a face which always to good let sun shine from behind cloud. First lay aside your veil: then tell me Mr. Hooper's smile glimmered faintly. "There is an to come," said he, "when all of shall cast aside our veils. Take it not amiss, beloved friend, if wear this crape till then." "Your words are a mystery, returned the young lady. away the veil from them, at least." "Elizabeth, I said "so far
their imagination, seemed to hAng down befOre hiS heArt, ThE
symBol oF a fearful secreT BetwEen him and them. Were the veIl
but CaST asiDE, tHey miGht speaK FrEELy oF iT, bUt nOt TIlL then.
thuS they saT a considerAblE tIme, speechlesS, CoNfused, and
sHriNking uneasilY frOm Mr. HoOpEr's EYe, whiCh tHey feLt to be
FIxed upOn them witH aN InvisiBLe glancE. fInAlly, The deputies
returnED aBAshed to their coNstituEnTS, pRONouNciNg the matteR
tOo weiGHty to be HAnDLED, exCEpt by a council Of the churchES,
if, Indeed, It MigHT not reQuire A gENerAl synod.

But tHere Was one perSon in tHE villagE UnappalLed by tHe aWe
wIth wHIcH tHe bLaCK veIL hAd iMPreSsed all bEsIdE hersElf. WHEN
THe dePutIes rEturnEd without an exPlaNatiON, or Even vEnturIng
tO dEmand One, she, With tHe Calm energy of her CharActer,
deteRmiNeD to ChAse awAY the stRanGe cLoud thaT appearED to Be
SETTlIng round Mr. Hooper, evErY MOmEnt more dArkly tHAn BeFOre.
As his PlIghTed wIFE, it shOuld BE hEr privilEge to kNOw WhAt the
blAcK veil cOnCeaLed. at the MInisTer's fiRst visit, ThereFOre,
she entered uPOn the subject wITh A DIrECt siMplIcity, which mAde
tHE tasK easIEr BotH For hiM and hEr. aFtER he had seated
himself, ShE fixed Her eyEs steadfastly Upon the veiL, BUT could
diScerN NoTHing of the dreadFul glOom that had SO overaweD the
mUltitude: It was but a DOUble fold Of cRapE, haNgiNG DoWn from
his foreHEAd to HiS mouth, aNd sLightly StiRriNg wIth HiS breath.

"No," Said she aLoUd, AnD sMilIng, "thERe is nothInG teRrIblE in
thIS piece Of craPe, exCePt THat It hides A FaCE WhicH I Am
AlwaYs gLaD to loOk upON. CoMe, good sIr, let the sUn sHIne fRoM
bEhind thE cloud. First laY aSide your blAcK veIl: then TELl me
why yOu put it on."

Mr. Hooper's smile GLimmereD faIntly.

"therE is an hour To cOme," saiD he, "WHen all Of us shAll caSt
AsiDE Our veILS. TAke It Not amiss, beLOVed FrienD, iF I weAr
this pIece of crape till theN."

"youR words are a mysTerY, too," RETuRneD ThE YouNg LAdy. "tAKe
away the veil frOm them, at leAsT."

"elIzabeth, I wiLL," saId He, "so far As
their imagination, seemedto hang do wn be for e h is  hea rt,the
symbol ofa  fea rful secret between hi m and  t h em.W er e the  veil
b u tc a stas id e,th e ymight  sp eak fre ely of it,  bu tnot till the n .Thus theysat  a considera ble  time,  s pee c hless , c onfus ed, an d 
shrin king unea si l y from Mr. Hoo p e r' s ey e, which they fel t  t o  be
fixed upon  themwi t ha n  in vis ible glanc e.  Fina l ly, the de p u t ies returned abas hed to thei r  co nstitu en ts, pronou ncing  t h e m atter
too w eigh ty to behandle d , excep t  by a c ouncil  of  th e ch u rc he s,if ,  in d ee d,i t m ight not  r eq uirea ge n e r a l sy nod .

B ut th ere was one p ers on i n  th e vil lageunap pa lledby the  awewi th which the bl ackveil hadimp re sse dall b e side h ers elf . Whenthe dep u tie sr e t ur ned without an exp la n a ti on, or e ven ve n tu ri n g
to dem an d o ne,s h e, wi th t h ecalm ene rgy of he rcharact er ,
dete rm ine d t o cha s e aw ay the  strange  clou d  that appeared to be
settlin g  r o u nd Mr.Hoo per, everymome n t mo re d a rk lyt han b efore .A sh is plighted wife, i tshould  be h er privilegeto know wh a t the
blac k ve i lc oncealed. At t he mi nister's f i rst visi t, th erefore, 
she ente r e d upon t hesub jec t w i t ha direct simp l i city ,which m ade 
the ta skeas ier  bo th  for himand her.  A ft er  h e h ad se a ted
hims el f,sh e f ixedh er eye s ste adfa st ly upo n the v e il , butco ul d
di sce rn  noth ingo f t he drea dful gloo m t h at h ad  s o overa wed the
multi tu de: it was  b uta doub l e  fold of  crape, hanging down fr o m
his f ore headto h is mouth,  an d slig htl y  stirr ing wi th hi sbre a t h.

" N o ,"  sa id  she aloud , and  smil in g, " there i s nothing terrible inthis piece of  cr ape, e xc ept th a t i th ide s a face which Iam
alwaysgl a dto look up o n.Co me, goo d sir,let t h e sun s hine from 
behind t he  clo u d . F irst lay a side you r black v e il: t h en  tell  me 
why y ou  pu t iton."
M r.Hoope r's sm il e glim mered  f aintly.
"There is an hour to c ome,"saidhe,  "when al l o f  us  shall ca st
a side our v eil s.Takeitn ot am iss, be lov e d fri end, if I wear th isp i ec e of crapet i l l t hen." 

" Y our wo rdsare a mystery, to o ," returned th e yo u n g l ady .  "Ta ke 
away the veil  fr om t hem, atle ast."

"Eli zabeth,Iw ill,"  saidhe, "s o far a s 
their imagination,_seemed to_hang down before his_heart, the
symbol_of_a fearful_secret_between him and_them. Were the_veil
but cast aside, they_might speak freely_of_it, but not till then.
Thus they sat a considerable time, speechless, confused, and
shrinking uneasily_from_Mr. Hooper's_eye,_which_they felt to be
fixed upon_them with an invisible glance._Finally, the_deputies
returned abashed to their constituents, pronouncing the matter
too_weighty_to be handled,_except by a council of the churches,
if, indeed, it_might not require a general synod.

But_there was one_person_in_the village unappalled by_the awe
with which the black veil_had impressed all beside herself. When
the_deputies returned without an explanation, or even_venturing
to demand one, she, with the_calm energy of her character,
determined_to chase_away the strange cloud that_appeared to be
settling_round Mr._Hooper, every moment_more darkly than before.
As his plighted_wife, it should_be her privilege to know what_the
black_veil concealed. At_the_minister's_first visit,_therefore,
she entered upon_the_subject with_a_direct simplicity, which made
the task easier_both_for him and her. After he had_seated
himself, she fixed her_eyes_steadfastly upon the veil,_but could
discern nothing of the_dreadful gloom that had so overawed_the
multitude: it_was but_a double fold of crape, hanging down from
his forehead to his_mouth, and slightly stirring with his_breath.

"No," said she aloud,_and smiling,_"there_is nothing terrible_in
this_piece of_crape, except that it hides a face_which I_am
always glad to look upon. Come,_good sir, let the_sun_shine from
behind the cloud. First lay_aside your black veil: then tell_me
why you put it on."

Mr._Hooper's_smile_glimmered faintly.

"There is an hour_to come," said he, "when all_of us shall_cast
aside our veils. Take it not amiss,_beloved_friend, if I wear
this piece of_crape_till then."

"Your words are a mystery,_too,"_returned_the young lady. "Take
away the_veil from them, at least."

"Elizabeth, I_will," said he, "so far as