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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 province。' 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？ O； 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 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 youth； 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 someone； who struck down a cane on the
flagstones 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 door； 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； the
airy counterpart of a stream of melted silver； 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；〃 replied Robin； cunningly； 〃and so
indeed is my kinsman； the major； in having so pretty a housekeeper。
But I prithee trouble him to step to the door； I will deliver h