按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
TWICE…TOLD TALES
MY KINSMAN； MAJOR MOLINEUX
by Nathaniel Hawthorne
AFTER THE KINGS of Great Britain had assumed the right of
appointing the colonial governors； the measures of the latter seldom
met with the ready and general approbation which had been paid to
those of their predecessors； under the original charters。 The people
looked with most jealous scrutiny to the exercise of power which did
not emanate from themselves； and they usually rewarded their rulers
with slender gratitude for the compliances by which； in softening
their instructions from beyond the sea； they had incurred the
reprehension of those who gave them。 The annals of Massachusetts Bay
will inform us； that of six governors in the space of about forty
years from the surrender of the old charter； under James II； two
were imprisoned by a popular insurrection； a third； as Hutchinson
inclines to believe； was driven from the province by the whizzing of a
musketball； a fourth； in the opinion of the same historian； was
hastened to his grave by continual bickerings with the House of
Representatives； and the remaining two； as well as their successors；
till the Revolution； were favored with few and brief intervals of
peaceful sway。 The inferior members of the court party； in times of
high political excitement； led scarcely a more desirable life。 These
remarks may serve as a preface to the following adventures； which
chanced upon a summer night； not far from a hundred years ago。 The
reader； in order to avoid a long and dry detail of colonial affairs；
is requested to dispense with an account of the train of circumstances
that had caused much temporary inflammation of the popular mind。
It was near nine o'clock of a moonlight evening； when a boat
crossed the ferry with a single passenger； who had obtained his
conveyance at that unusual hour by the promise of an extra fare。 While
he stood on the landing place； searching in either pocket for the
means of fulfilling his agreement； the ferryman lifted a lantern； by
the aid of which； and the newly…risen moon； he took a very accurate
survey of the stranger's figure。 He was a youth of barely eighteen
years； evidently country…bred； and now； as it should seem； upon his
first visit to town。 He was clad in a coarse gray coat； well worn； but
in excellent repair； his under…garments were durably constructed of
leather； and fitted tight to a pair of serviceable and well…shaped
limbs； his stockings of blue yarn were the incontrovertible work of
a mother or a sister； and on his head was a three…cornered hat；
which in its better days had perhaps sheltered the graver brow of
the lad's father。 Under his left arm was a heavy cudgel； formed of
an oak sapling； and retaining a part of the hardened root； and his
equipment was completed by a wallet； not so abundantly stocked as to
incommode the vigorous shoulders on which it hung。 Brown； curly
hair； well…shaped features； and bright； cheerful eyes； were nature's
gifts； and worth all that art could have done for his adornment。
The youth； one of whose names was Robin； finally drew from his
pocket the half of a little province bill of five shillings； which； in
the depreciation of that sort of currency； did but satisfy the
ferryman's demand； with the surplus of a sexangular piece of
parchment； valued at three pence。 He then walked forward into the
town； with as light a step as if his day's journey had not already
exceeded thirty miles； and with as eager an eye as if he were entering
London city； instead of the little metropolis of a New England colony。
Before Robin had proceeded far； however； it occurred to him that he
knew not whither to direct his steps； so he paused； and looked up
and down the narrow street； scrutinizing the small and mean wooden
buildings that were scattered on either side。
〃This low hovel cannot be my kinsman's dwelling；〃 thought he；
〃nor yonder old house； where the moonlight enters at the broken
casement； and truly I see none hereabouts that might be worthy of him。
It would have been wise to inquire my way of the ferryman； and
doubtless he would have gone with me； and earned a shilling from the
major for his pains。 But the next man I meet will do as well。〃
He resumed his walk； and was glad to perceive that the street now
became wider； and the houses more respectable in their appearance。
He soon discerned a figure moving on moderately in advance； and
hastened his steps to overtake it。 As Robin drew nigh； he saw that the
passenger was a man in years； with a full periwig of gray hair； a
wide…skirted coat of dark cloth； and silk stockings rolled above his
knees。 He carried a long and polished cane； which he struck down
perpendicularly before him； at every step； and at regular intervals he
uttered two successive hems； of a peculiarly solemn and sepulchral
intonation。 Having made these observations； Robin laid hold of the
skirt of the old man's coat； just when the light from the open door
and windows of a barber's shop fell upon both their figures。 〃Good
evening to you； honored sir；〃 said he； making a low bow； and still
retaining his hold of the skirt。 〃I pray you tell me whereabouts is
the dwelling of my kinsman； Major Molineux。〃
The youth's question was uttered very loudly； and one of the
barbers； whose razor was descending on a well…soaped chin； and another
who was dressing a Ramillies wig； left their occupations； and came
to the door。 The citizen； in the meantime； turned a long…favored
countenance upon Robin； and answered him in a tone of excessive
anger and annoyance。 His two sepulchral hems； however； broke into
the very centre of his rebuke； with most singular effect； like a
thought of the cold grave obtruding among wrathful passions。
〃Let go my garment； fellow！ I tell you； I know not the man you
speak of。 What！ I have authority； I have… hem； hem… authority； and
if this be the respect you show for your betters； your feet shall be
brought acquainted with the stocks by daylight； tomorrow morning！〃
Robin released the old man's skirt； and hastened away； pursued by
an ill…mannered roar of laughter from the barber's shop。 He was at
first considerably surprised by the result of his question； but； being
a shrewd youth； soon thought himself able to account for the mystery。
This is some country representative；〃 was his conclusion； 〃who
has never seen the inside of my kinsman's door； and lacks the breeding
to answer a stranger civilly。 The man is old； or verily… I might be
tempted to turn back and smite him on the nose。 Ah； Robin； Robin！ even
the barber's boys laugh at you choosing such a guide！ You will be
wiser in time； friend Robin。〃
He now became entangled in a succession of crooked and narrow
streets； which crossed each other； and meandered at no great
distance from the water…side。 The smell of tar was obvious to his
nostrils； the masts of vessels pierced the moonlight above the tops of
the buildings； and the numerous signs； which Robin paused to read；
informed him that he was near the centre of business。 But the
streets were empty； the shops were closed； and lights were visible
only in the second stories of a few dwelling…houses。 At length； on the
corner of a narrow lane； through which he was passing； he beheld the
broad countenance of a British hero swinging before the door of an
inn； whence proceeded the voices of many guests。 The casement of one
of the lower windows was thrown back； and a very thin curtain
permitted Robin to distinguish a party at supper； round a
well…furnished table。 The fragrance of the good cheer steamed forth
into the outer air； and the youth could not fail to recollect that the
last remnant of his travelling stock of provision had yielded to his
morning appetite； and that noon had found； and left him； dinnerless。
〃O； that a parchment three…penny might give me a right to sit
down at yonder table！〃 said Robin； with a sigh。 〃But the major will
make me welcome to the best of his victuals； so I will even step
boldly in； and inquire my way to his dwelling。〃
He entered the tavern； and was guided by the murmur of voices；
and the fumes of tobacco； to the public room。 It was a long and low
apartment； with oaken walls； grown dark in the continual smoke； and
a floor； which was thickly sanded； but of no immaculate purity。 A
number of persons… the larger part of whom appeared to be mariners； or
in some way connected with the sea… occupied the wooden benches； or
leather…bottomed chairs； conversing on various matters； and
occasionally lending their attention to some topic of general
interest。 Three or four little groups were draining as many bowls of
punch； which the West India trade had long since made a familiar drink
in the colony。 Others； who had the appearance of men who lived by
regular and laborious handicraft； preferred the insulated bliss of
an unshared potation； and became more taciturn under its influence。
Nearly all； in short； evinced a predilection for the Good Creature
in some of i