"Hawthorne, Nathaniel - The Minister's Black Veil" - читать интересную книгу автора (Hawthorne Nathaniel)

auditors, which made it greatly the most powerful effort that they had
ever heard from their pastor's lips. It was tinged, rather more darkly
than usual, with the gentle gloom of Mr. Hooper's temperament. The
subject had reference to secret sin, and those sad mysteries which
we hide from our nearest and dearest, and would fain conceal from
our own consciousness, even forgetting that the Omniscient can
detect them. A subtle power was breathed into his words. Each member
of the congregation, the most innocent girl, and the man of hardened
breast, felt as if the preacher had crept upon them, behind his
awful veil, and discovered their hoarded iniquity of deed or
thought. Many spread their clasped hands on their bosoms. There was
nothing terrible in what Mr. Hooper said, at least, no violence; and
yet, with every tremor of his melancholy voice, the hearers quaked. An
unsought pathos came hand in hand with awe. So sensible were the
audience of some unwonted attribute in their minister, that they
longed for a breath of wind to blow aside the veil, almost believing
that a stranger's visage would be discovered, though the form,
gesture, and voice were those of Mr. Hooper.

At the close of the services, the people hurried out with
indecorous confusion, eager to communicate their pent-up amazement,
and conscious of lighter spirits the moment they lost sight of the
black veil. Some gathered in little circles, huddled closely together,
with their mouths all whispering in the centre; some went homeward
alone, wrapt in silent meditation; some talked loudly, and profaned
the Sabbath day with ostentatious laughter. A few shook their
sagacious heads, intimating that they could penetrate the mystery;
while one or two affirmed that there was no mystery at all, but only
that Mr. Hooper's eyes were so weakened by the midnight lamp, as to
require a shade. After a brief interval, forth came good Mr. Hooper
also, in the rear of his flock. Turning his veiled face from one group
to another, he paid due reverence to the hoary heads, saluted the
middle aged with kind dignity as their friend and spiritual guide,
greeted the young with mingled authority and love, and laid his
hands on the little children's heads to bless them. Such was always
his custom on the Sabbath day. Strange and bewildered looks repaid him
for his courtesy. None, as on former occasions, aspired to the honor
of walking by their pastor's side. Old Squire Saunders, doubtless by
an accidental lapse of memory, neglected to invite Mr. Hooper to his
table, where the good clergyman had been wont to bless the food,
almost every Sunday since his settlement. He returned, therefore, to
the parsonage, and, at the moment of closing the door, was observed to
look back upon the people, all of whom had their eyes fixed upon the
minister. A sad smile gleamed faintly from beneath the black veil, and
flickered about his mouth, glimmering as he disappeared.

"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!"