Even if his bewildered soul could have forgotten , there was a faithful woman at his pillow who with averted eyes would have covered that aged face which she had last beheld in the comeliness of manhood . At length the death-stricken old man lay quietly in the torpor of mental and bodily exhaustion , with an imperceptible pulse and breath that grew fainter and fainter except when a long , deep and irregular inspiration seemed to prelude the flight of his spirit . The minister of Westbury approached the bedside . `` Venerable Father Hooper , '' said he , `` the moment of your release is at hand . Are you ready for the lifting of the veil that shuts in time from eternity ? '' Father Hooper at first replied merely by a feeble motion of his head ; then -- apprehensive , perhaps , that his meaning might be doubtful -- he exerted himself to speak . `` Yea , '' said he , in faint accents ; `` my soul hath a patient weariness until that veil be lifted . '' `` 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 XXXXX pale spectators .
Before as by for from in of that until with