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more taciturn under its influence。 Nearly all； in short； evinced
a predilection for the Good Creature in some of its various
shapes； for this is a vice to which； as Fast Day sermons of a
hundred years ago will testify； we have a long hereditary claim。
The only guests to whom Robin's sympathies inclined him were two
or three sheepish countrymen； who were using the inn somewhat
after the fashion of a Turkish caravansary； they had gotten
themselves into the darkest corner of the room； and heedless of
the Nicotian atmosphere； were supping on the bread of their own
ovens； and the bacon cured in their own chimney…smoke。 But though
Robin felt a sort of brotherhood with these strangers； his eyes
were attracted from them to a person who stood near the door；
holding whispered conversation with a group of ill…dressed
associates。 His features were separately striking almost to
grotesqueness； and the whole face left a deep impression on the
memory。 The forehead bulged out into a double prominence； with a
vale between； the nose came boldly forth in an irregular curve；
and its bridge was of more than a finger's breadth； the eyebrows
were deep and shaggy； and the eyes glowed beneath them like fire
in a cave。
While Robin deliberated of whom to inquire respecting his
kinsman's dwelling； he was accosted by the innkeeper； a little
man in a stained white apron； who had come to pay his
professional welcome to the stranger。 Being in the second
generation from a French Protestant； he seemed to have inherited
the courtesy of his parent nation； but no variety of
circumstances was ever known to change his voice from the one
shrill note in which he now addressed Robin。
〃From the country； I presume； sir？〃 said he； with a profound bow。
〃Beg leave to congratulate you on your arrival； and trust you
intend a long stay with us。 Fine town here； sir； beautiful
buildings； and much that may interest a stranger。 May I hope for
the honor of your commands in respect to supper？〃
〃The man sees a family likeness！ the rogue has guessed that I am
related to the Major！〃 thought Robin； who had hitherto
experienced little superfluous civility。
All eyes were now turned on the country lad； standing at the
door； in his worn three…cornered hat； gray coat； leather
breeches； and blue yarn stockings； leaning on an oaken cudgel；
and bearing a wallet on his back。
Robin replied to the courteous innkeeper； with such an assumption
of confidence as befitted the Major's relative。 〃My honest
friend；〃 he said； 〃I shall make it a point to patronize your
house on some occasion； when〃here he could not help lowering
his voice〃when I may have more than a parchment three…pence in
my pocket。 My present business；〃 continued he； speaking with
lofty confidence； 〃is merely to inquire my way to the dwelling of
my kinsman； Major Molineux。〃
There was a sudden and general movement in the room； which Robin
interpreted as expressing the eagerness of each individual to
become his guide。 But the innkeeper turned his eyes to a written
paper on the wall； which he read； or seemed to read； with
occasional recurrences to the young man's figure。
〃What have we here？〃 said he； breaking his speech into little dry
fragments。 〃 'Left the house of the subscriber； bounden servant；
Hezekiah Mudge；had on； when he went away； gray coat； leather
breeches； master's third…best hat。 One pound currency reward to
whosoever shall lodge him in any jail of the providence。' Better
trudge； boy； better trudge！〃
Robin had begun to draw his hand towards the lighter end of the
oak cudgel； but a strange hostility in every countenance induced
him to relinquish his purpose of breaking the courteous
innkeeper's head。 As he turned to leave the room； he encountered
a sneering glance from the bold…featured personage whom he had
before noticed； and no sooner was he beyond the door； than he
heard a general laugh； in which the innkeeper's voice might be
distinguished； like the dropping of small stones into a kettle。
〃Now； is it not strange；〃 thought Robin； with his usual
shrewdness； 〃is it not strange that the confession of an empty
pocket should outweigh the name of my kinsman； Major Molineux？
Oh； if I had one of those grinning rascals in the woods； where I
and my oak sapling grew up together； I would teach him that my
arm is heavy though my purse be light！〃
On turning the corner of the narrow lane； Robin found himself in
a spacious street； with an unbroken line of lofty houses on each
side； and a steepled building at the upper end； whence the
ringing of a bell announced the hour of nine。 The light of the
moon； and the lamps from the numerous shop…windows； discovered
people promenading on the pavement； and amongst them Robin had
hoped to recognize his hitherto inscrutable relative。 The result
of his former inquiries made him unwilling to hazard another； in
a scene of such publicity； and he determined to walk slowly and
silently up the street； thrusting his face close to that of every
elderly gentleman； in search of the Major's lineaments。 In his
progress； Robin encountered many gay and gallant figures。
Embroidered garments of showy colors； enormous periwigs；
gold…laced hats； and silver…hilted swords glided past him and
dazzled his optics。 Travelled youths； imitators of the European
fine gentlemen of the period； trod jauntily along； half dancing
to the fashionable tunes which they hummed； and making poor Robin
ashamed of his quiet and natural gait。 At length； after many
pauses to examine the gorgeous display of goods in the
shop…windows； and after suffering some rebukes for the
impertinence of his scrutiny into people's faces； the Major's
kinsman found himself near the steepled building； still
unsuccessful in his search。 As yet； however； he had seen only one
side of the thronged street； so Robin crossed； and continued the
same sort of inquisition down the opposite pavement； with
stronger hopes than the philosopher seeking an honest man； but
with no better fortune。 He had arrived about midway towards the
lower end； from which his course began； when he overheard the
approach of some one who struck down a cane on the flag…stones at
every step； uttering at regular intervals； two sepulchral hems。
〃Mercy on us！〃 quoth Robin； recognizing the sound。
Turning a corner； which chanced to be close at his right hand； he
hastened to pursue his researches in some other part of the town。
His patience now was wearing low； and he seemed to feel more
fatigue from his rambles since he crossed the ferry； than from
his journey of several days on the other side。 Hunger also
pleaded loudly within him； and Robin began to balance the
propriety of demanding； violently； and with lifted cudgel； the
necessary guidance from the first solitary passenger whom he
should meet。 While a resolution to this effect was gaining
strength； he entered a street of mean appearance； on either side
of which a row of ill…built houses was straggling towards the
harbor。 The moonlight fell upon no passenger along the whole
extent； but in the third domicile which Robin passed there was a
half…opened door； and his keen glance detected a woman's garment
within。
〃My luck may be better here；〃 said he to himself。
Accordingly； he approached the doors and beheld it shut closer as
he did so； yet an open space remained； sufficing for the fair
occupant to observe the stranger； without a corresponding display
on her part。 All that Robin could discern was a strip of scarlet
petticoat； and the occasional sparkle of an eye； as if the
moonbeams were trembling on some bright thing。
〃Pretty mistress；〃 for I may call her so with a good conscience
thought the shrewd youth； since I know nothing to the
contrary；〃my sweet pretty mistress； will you be kind enough to
tell me whereabouts I must seek the dwelling of my kinsman； Major
Molineux？〃
Robin's voice was plaintive and winning； and the female； seeing
nothing to be shunned in the handsome country youth； thrust open
the door； and came forth into the moonlight。 She was a dainty
little figure with a white neck； round arms； and a slender waist；
at the extremity of which her scarlet petticoat jutted out over a
hoop； as if she were standing in a balloon。 Moreover； her face
was oval and pretty； her hair dark beneath the little cap； and
her bright eyes possessed a sly freedom； which triumphed over
those of Robin。
〃Major Molineux dwells here；〃 said this fair woman。
Now； her voice was the sweetest Robin had heard that night； yet
he could not help doubting whether that sweet voice spoke Gospel
truth。 He looked up and down the mean street； and then surveyed
the house before which they stood。 It was a small； dark edifice
of two stories； the second of which projected over the lower
floor； and the front apartment had the aspect of a shop for petty
commodities。
〃Now； truly； I am in luck；〃