I wonder he is not afraid to be alone with himself . '' `` Men sometimes are so , '' said her husband . The afternoon service was attended with similar circumstances . At its conclusion the bell tolled for the funeral of a young lady . The relatives and friends were assembled in the house and the more distant acquaintances stood about the door , speaking of the good qualities of the deceased , when their talk was interrupted by the appearance of Mr. Hooper , still covered with his black veil . It was now an appropriate emblem . The clergyman stepped into the room where the corpse was laid , and bent over the coffin to take a last farewell of his deceased parishioner . As he stooped the veil hung straight down from his forehead , so that , if her eye-lids had not been closed for ever , the dead maiden might have seen his face . Could Mr. Hooper be fearful of her glance , that he so hastily caught back the black veil ? A person who watched the interview between the dead and living scrupled not to affirm that at the instant when the clergyman 's features were disclosed the corpse had slightly shuddered , rustling the shroud and muslin cap , though the countenance retained the composure of death . A superstitious old woman was the only witness of this prodigy . From the coffin Mr. Hooper passed into the chamber of the mourners , and thence to the head of the staircase , to make the funeral prayer . It was a tender and heart-dissolving prayer , full of sorrow , yet so imbued with celestial hopes that the music of a heavenly harp swept by the fingers of the dead seemed faintly to be heard among the saddest accents of the minister . The people trembled , though they but darkly understood him , when he prayed that they and himself , and all of mortal race , might be ready , as he trusted this young maiden had been , for the dreadful hour that should snatch the veil from their faces . The bearers went heavily forth and the mourners followed , saddening all the street , with the dead before them and Mr. Hooper in his black veil behind . `` Why do you look back ? '' said one in the procession to his partner . `` I had a fancy , '' replied she , `` that the minister and the maiden 's spirit were walking hand in hand . '' `` And so had I at the same moment , '' said the other . That night the handsomest couple in Milford village were to be joined in wedlock .
Though reckoned a melancholy man , Mr. XXXXX had a placid cheerfulness for such occasions which often excited a sympathetic smile where livelier merriment would have been thrown away .
Hooper Milford acquaintances afternoon emblem eye-lids muslin night parishioner shroud