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

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 beside herself. When the
deputies returned without an explanation, or even venturing to
demand one, she, with the calm energy of her character, determined
to chase away the strange cloud that appeared to be settling round Mr.
Hooper, every moment more darkly than before. As his plighted wife, it
should be her privilege to know what the black veil concealed. At
the minister's first visit, therefore, she entered upon the subject
with a direct simplicity, which made the task easier both for him
and her. After he had seated himself, she fixed her eyes steadfastly
upon the veil, but could discern nothing of the dreadful gloom that
had so overawed the multitude: it was but a double fold of crape,
hanging down from his forehead to his mouth, and slightly stirring
with his breath.

"No," said she aloud, and smiling, "there is nothing terrible in
this piece of crape, except that it hides a face which I am always
glad to look upon. Come, good sir, let the sun shine from behind the
cloud. First lay aside your black veil: then tell me why you put it
on."

Mr. Hooper's smile glimmered faintly.

"There is an hour to come," said he, "when all of us shall cast
aside our veils. Take it not amiss, beloved friend, if I wear this
piece of crape till then."

"Your words are a mystery, too," returned the young lady. "Take