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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 look…out；〃 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 side…walk； 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 night…cap； 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 tomb…stone。 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； 〃Oh；〃 quoth he； 〃the
old earth is frolicksome tonight！〃
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 tonight； 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。〃
THE END
。