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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