my kinsman-第5节

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laying　his　hand　on　the　skirt　of　the　gray　coat。　〃You　forget　that

we　must　wait　here　for　your　kinsman；　and　there　is　reason　to

believe　that　he　will　pass　by；　in　the　course　of　a　very　few

moments。〃



The　near　approach　of　the　uproar　had　now　disturbed　the

neighborhood；　windows　flew　open　on　all　sides；　and　many　heads；　in

the　attire　of　the　pillow；　and　confused　by　sleep　suddenly　broken；

were　protruded　to　the　gaze　of　whoever　had　leisure　to　observe

them。　Eager　voices　hailed　each　other　from　house　to　house；　all

demanding　the　explanation；　which　not　a　soul　could　give。

Half…dressed　men　hurried　towards　the　unknown　commotion　stumbling

as　they　went　over　the　stone　steps　that　thrust　themselves　into　the

narrow　foot…walk。　The　shouts；　the　laughter；　and　the　tuneless　bray

the　antipodes　of　music；　came　onwards　with　increasing　din；　till

scattered　individuals；　and　then　denser　bodies；　began　to　appear

round　a　corner　at　the　distance　of　a　hundred　yards



〃Will　you　recognize　your　kinsman；　if　he　passes　in　this　crowd？〃

inquired　the　gentleman



〃Indeed；　I　can't　warrant　it；　sir；　but　I'll　take　my　stand　here；

and　keep　a　bright　lookout；〃　answered　Robin；　descending　to　the

outer　edge　of　the　pavement。



A　mighty　stream　of　people　now　emptied　into　the　street；　and　came

rolling　slowly　towards　the　church。　A　single　horseman　wheeled　the

corner　in　the　midst　of　them；　and　close　behind　him　came　a　band　of

fearful　wind　instruments；　sending　forth　a　fresher　discord　now

that

no　intervening　buildings　kept　it　from　the　ear。　Then　a　redder

light　disturbed　the　moonbeams；　and　a　dense　multitude　of　torches

shone　along　the　street；　concealing；　by　their　glare；　whatever

object　they　illuminated。　The　single　horseman；　clad　in　a　military

dress；　and　bearing　a　drawn　sword；　rode　onward　as　the　leader；　and；

by　his　fierce　and　variegated　countenance；　appeared　like　war

personified；　the　red　of　one　cheek　was　an　emblem　of　fire　and

sword；　the　blackness　of　the　other　betokened　the　mourning　that

attends　them。　In　his　train　were　wild　figures　in　the　Indian　dress；

and　many　fantastic　shapes　without　a　model；　giving　the　whole　march

a　visionary　air；　as　if　a　dream　had　broken　forth　from　some

feverish　brain；　and　were　sweeping　visibly　through　the　midnight

streets。　A　mass　of　people；　inactive；　except　as　applauding

spectators；　hemmed　the　procession　in；　and　several　women　ran　along

the　sidewalk；　piercing　the　confusion　of　heavier　sounds　with　their

shrill　voices　of　mirth　or　terror。



〃The　double…faced　fellow　has　his　eye　upon　me；〃　muttered　Robin；

with　an　indefinite　but　an　uncomfortable　idea　that　he　was　himself

to　bear　a　part　in　the　pageantry。



The　leader　turned　himself　in　the　saddle；　and　fixed　his　glance

full　upon　the　country　youth；　as　the　steed　went　slowly　by。　When

Robin　had　freed　his　eyes　from　those　fiery　ones；　the　musicians

were　passing　before　him；　and　the　torches　were　close　at　hand；　but

the　unsteady　brightness　of　the　latter　formed　a　veil　which　he

could　not　penetrate。　The　rattling　of　wheels　over　the　stones

sometimes　found　its　way　to　his　ear；　and　confused　traces　of　a

human　form　appeared　at　intervals；　and　then　melted　into　the　vivid

light。　A　moment　more；　and　the　leader　thundered　a　command　to　halt：

the　trumpets　vomited　a　horrid　breath；　and　then　held　their　peace；

the　shouts　and　laughter　of　the　people　died　away；　and　there

remained　only　a　universal　hum；　allied　to　silence。　Right　before

Robin's　eyes　was　an　uncovered　cart。　There　the　torches　blazed　the

brightest；　there　the　moon　shone　out　like　day；　and　there；　in

tar…and…feathery　dignity；　sat　his　kinsman；　Major　Molineux！



He　was　an　elderly　man；　of　large　and　majestic　person；　and　strong；

square　features；　betokening　a　steady　soul；　but　steady　as　it　was；

his　enemies　had　found　means　to　shake　it。　His　face　was　pale　as

death；　and　far　more　ghastly；　the　broad　forehead　was　contracted　in

his　agony；　so　that　his　eyebrows　formed　one　grizzled　line；　his

eyes　were　red　and　wild；　and　the　foam　hung　white　upon　his

quivering　lip。　His　whole　frame　was　agitated　by　a　quick　and

continual　tremor；　which　his　pride　strove　to　quell；　even　in　those

circumstances　of　overwhelming　humiliation。　But　perhaps　the

bitterest　pang　of　all　was　when　his　eyes　met　those　of　Robin；　for

he　evidently　knew　him　on　the　instant；　as　the　youth　stood

witnessing　the　foul　disgrace　of　a　head　grown　gray　in　honor。　They

stared　at　each　other　in　silence；　and　Robin's　knees　shook；　and　his

hair　bristled；　with　a　mixture　of　pity　and　terror。　Soon；　however；

a　bewildering　excitement　began　to　seize　upon　his　mind；　the

preceding　adventures　of　the　night；　the　unexpected　appearance　of

the　crowd；　the　torches；　the　confused　din　and　the　hush　that

followed；　the　spectre　of　his　kinsman　reviled　by　that　great

multitude；all　this；　and；　more　than　all；　a　perception　of

tremendous　ridicule　in　the　whole　scene；　affected　him　with　a　sort

of　mental　inebriety。　At　that　moment　a　voice　of　sluggish　merriment

saluted　Robin's　ears；　he　turned　instinctively；　and　just　behind

the　corner　of　the　church　stood　the　lantern…bearer；　rubbing　his

eyes；　and　drowsily　enjoying　the　lad's　amazement。　Then　he　heard　a

peal　of　laughter　like　the　ringing　of　silvery　bells；　a　woman

twitched　his　arm；　a　saucy　eye　met　his；　and　he　saw　the　lady　of　the

scarlet　petticoat。　A　sharp；　dry　cachinnation　appealed　to　his

memory；　and；　standing　on　tiptoe　in　the　crowd；　with　his　white

apron　over　his　head；　he　beheld　the　courteous　little　innkeeper。

And　lastly；　there　sailed　over　the　heads　of　the　multitude　a　great；

broad　laugh；　broken　in　the　midst　by　two　sepulchral　hems；　thus；

〃Haw；　haw；　haw；hem；　hem；haw；　haw；　haw；　haw！〃



The　sound　proceeded　from　the　balcony　of　the　opposite　edifice；　and

thither　Robin　turned　his　eyes。　In　front　of　the　Gothic　window

stood　the　old　citizen；　wrapped　in　a　wide　gown；　his　gray　periwig

exchanged　for　a　nightcap；　which　was　thrust　back　from　his

forehead；　and　his　silk　stockings　hanging　about　his　legs。　He

supported　himself　on　his　polished　cane　in　a　fit　of　convulsive

merriment；　which　manifested　itself　on　his　solemn　old　features

like　a　funny　inscription　on　a　tombstone。　Then　Robin　seemed　to

hear　the　voices　of　the　barbers；　of　the　guests　of　the　inn；　and　of

all　who　had　made　sport　of　him　that　night。　The　contagion　was

spreading　among　the　multitude；　when　all　at　once；　it　seized　upon

Robin；　and　he　sent　forth　a　shout　of　laughter　that　echoed　through

the　street；every　man　shook　his　sides；　every　man　emptied　his

lungs；　but　Robin's　shout　was　the　loudest　there。　The　cloud…spirits

peeped　from　their　silvery　islands；　as　the　congregated　mirth　went

roaring　up　the　sky！　The　Man　in　the　Moon　heard　the　far　bellow。

〃Oho；〃　quoth　he；　〃the　old　earth　is　frolicsome　to…night！〃



When　there　was　a　momentary　calm　in　that　tempestuous　sea　of　sound；

the　leader　gave　the　sign；　the　procession　resumed　its　march。　On

they　went；　like　fiends　that　throng　in　mockery　around　some　dead

potentate；　mighty　no　more；　but　majestic　still　in　his　agony。　On

they　went；　in　counterfeited　pomp；　in　senseless　uproar；　in

frenzied　merriment；　trampling　all　on　an　old　man's　heart。　On　swept

the　tumult；　and　left　a　silent　street　behind。



　　　　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。　　　　。



〃Well；　Robin；　are　you　dreaming？〃　inquired　the　gentleman；　laying

his　hand　on　the　youth's　shoulder。



Robin　started；　and　withdrew　his　arm　from　the　stone　post　to　which

he　had　instinctively　clung；　as　the　living　stream　rolled　by　him。

His　cheek　was　somewhat　pale；　and　his　eye　not　quite　as　lively　as

in　the　earlier　part　of　the　evening。



〃Will　you　be　kind　enough　to　show　me　the　way　to　the　ferry？〃　said

he；　after　a　moment's　pause。



〃You　have；　then；　adopted　a　new　subject　of　inquiry？〃　observed　his

companion；　with　a　smile。



〃Why；　yes；　sir；〃　replied　Robin；　rather　dryly。　〃Thanks　to　you；　and

to　my　other　friends；　I　have　at　last　met　my　kinsman；　and　he　will

scarce　desire　to　see　my　face　again。　I　begin　to　grow　weary　of　a

town　life；　sir。　Will　you　show　me　the　way　to　the　ferry？〃



〃No；　my　good　friend　Robin；not　to…night；　at　least；〃　said　the

gentleman。　〃Some　few　days　hence；　if　you　wish　it；　I　will　speed　you

on　your　journey。　Or；　if　you　prefer　to　remain　with　us；　perhaps；　as

you　are　a　shrewd　youth；　you　may　rise　in　the　world　without　the

help　of　your　kinsman；　Major　Molineux。〃






End