His frame shuddered , his lips grew white , he spilt the untasted wine upon the carpet and rushed forth into the darkness , for the Earth too had on her black veil . The next day the whole village of Milford talked of little else than Parson Hooper 's black veil . That , and the mystery concealed behind it , supplied a topic for discussion between acquaintances meeting in the street and good women gossipping at their open windows . It was the first item of news that the tavernkeeper told to his guests . The children babbled of it on their way to school . One imitative little imp covered his face with an old black handkerchief , thereby so affrighting his playmates that the panic seized himself and he wellnigh lost his wits by his own waggery . It was remarkable that , of all the busybodies and impertinent people in the parish , not one ventured to put the plain question to Mr. Hooper wherefore he did this thing . Hitherto , whenever there appeared the slightest call for such interference , he had never lacked advisers nor shown himself averse to be guided by their judgment . If he erred at all , it was by so painful a degree of self-distrust that even the mildest censure would lead him to consider an indifferent action as a crime . Yet , though so well acquainted with this amiable weakness , no individual among his parishioners chose to make the black veil a subject of friendly remonstrance . There was a feeling of dread , neither plainly confessed nor carefully concealed , which caused each to shift the responsibility upon another , till at length it was found expedient to send a deputation of the church , in order to deal with Mr. Hooper about the mystery before it should grow into a scandal . Never did an embassy so ill discharge its duties . The minister received them with friendly courtesy , but became silent after they were seated , leaving to his visitors the whole burden of introducing their important business . The topic , it might be supposed , was obvious enough . There was the black veil swathed round Mr. Hooper 's forehead and concealing every feature above his placid mouth , on which , at times , they could perceive the glimmering of a melancholy smile . But that piece of crape , to 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 besides herself .
When the deputies returned without an explanation , or even venturing to demand one , she with the calm energy XXXXX her character determined to chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be settling round Mr. Hooper every moment more darkly than before .
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