`` And is it fitting , '' resumed the Reverend Mr. Clark , `` that a man so given to prayer , of such a blameless example , holy in deed and thought , so far as mortal judgment may pronounce , -- is it fitting that a father in the Church should leave a shadow on his memory that may seem to blacken a life so pure ? I pray you , my venerable brother , let not this thing be ! Suffer us to be gladdened by your triumphant aspect as you go to your reward . Before the veil of eternity be lifted let me cast aside this black veil from your face ; '' and , thus speaking , the Reverend Mr. Clark bent forward to reveal the mystery of so many years . But , exerting a sudden energy that made all the beholders stand aghast , Father Hooper snatched both his hands from beneath the bedclothes and pressed them strongly on the black veil , resolute to struggle if the minister of Westbury would contend with a dying man . `` Never ! '' cried the veiled clergyman . `` On earth , never ! '' `` Dark old man , '' exclaimed the affrighted minister , `` with what horrible crime upon your soul are you now passing to the judgment ? '' Father Hooper 's breath heaved : it rattled in his throat ; but , with a mighty effort grasping forward with his hands , he caught hold of life and held it back till he should speak . He even raised himself in bed , and there he sat shivering with the arms of Death around him , while the black veil hung down , awful at that last moment in the gathered terrors of a lifetime . And yet the faint , sad smile so often there now seemed to glimmer from its obscurity and linger on Father Hooper 's lips . `` Why do you tremble at me alone ? '' cried he , turning his veiled face round the circle of pale spectators . `` Tremble also at each other . Have men avoided me and women shown no pity and children screamed and fled only for my black veil ? What but the mystery which it obscurely typifies has made this piece of crape so awful ? When the friend shows his inmost heart to his friend , the lover to his best-beloved ; when man does not vainly shrink from the eye of his Creator , loathsomely treasuring up the secret of his sin , -- then deem me a monster for the symbol beneath which I have lived and die . I look around me , and , lo ! on every visage a black veil ! ''
While his auditors shrank XXXXX one another in mutual affright , Father Hooper fell back upon his pillow , a veiled corpse with a faint smile lingering on the lips .
Before On as at by from that till upon with