"When the young clergyman's gliding step paused at the lowly entrance of the meeting-house, what broken murmurs of devotion reached his ear! In the church, he was met by the fragrance of flowers, and the gleaming of the sunshine; for the doors and windows were left open, that the balmy summer air might go freely in, and give all mankind a share of its healing power."

Notes 

"Twice-Told Tales" is praised for its exploration of psychological and moral complexities, often employing allegorical elements and symbolism to convey Hawthorne's reflections on human nature and the consequences of sin.