`` How strange , '' said a lady , `` that a simple black veil , such as any woman might wear on her bonnet , should become such a terrible thing on Mr. Hooper 's face ! '' `` Something must surely be amiss with Mr. Hooper 's intellects , '' observed her husband , the physician of the village . `` But the strangest part of the affair is the effect of this vagary even on a sober-minded man like myself . The black veil , though it covers only our pastor 's face , throws its influence over his whole person and makes him ghost-like from head to foot . Do you not feel it so ? '' `` Truly do I , '' replied the lady ; `` and I would not be alone with him for the world . 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. XXXXX in his black veil behind .
Hooper acquaintances afternoon emblem eye-lids intellects muslin parishioner shroud vagary