twice-told tales- my kinsman, major molineux-第4章

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！


gentleman。

　　　〃O；　he　was　a　very　ill…favored　fellow；　sir；〃　replied　Robin；　〃with

two　great　bumps　on　his　forehead；　a　hook　nose；　fiery　eyes…　and；　what

struck　me　as　the　strangest；　his　face　was　of　two　different　colors。　Do

you　happen　to　know　such　a　man；　sir！〃

　　　〃Not　intimately；〃　answered　the　stranger；　〃but　I　chanced　to　meet　him

a　little　time　previous　to　your　stopping　me。　I　believe　you　may　trust

his　word；　and　that　the　major　will　very　shortly　pass　through　this

street。　In　the　meantime；　as　I　have　a　singular　curiosity　to　witness

your　meeting；　I　will　sit　down　here　upon　the　steps；　and　bear　you

company。〃

　　　He　seated　himself　accordingly；　and　soon　engaged　his　companion　in

animated　discourse。　It　was　but　of　brief　continuance；　however；　for　a

noise　of　shouting；　which　bad　long　been　remotely　audible；　drew　so

much　nearer　that　Robin　inquired　its　cause。

　　　〃What　may　be　the　meaning　of　this　uproar？〃　asked　he。　〃Truly；　if　your

town　be　always　as　noisy；　I　shall　find　little　sleep；　while　I　am　an

inhabitant。〃

　　　〃Why；　indeed；　friend　Robin；　there　do　appear　to　be　three　or　four

riotous　fellows　abroad　tonight；〃　replied　the　gentleman。　〃You　must

not　expect　all　the　stillness　of　your　native　woods；　here　in　our

streets。　But　the　watch　will　shortly　be　at　the　heels　of　these　lads；

and…〃

　　　〃Ay；　and　set　them　in　the　stocks　by　peep　of　day；〃　interrupted　Robin；

recollecting　his　own　encounter　with　the　drowsy　lantern…bearer。　〃But；

dear　sir；　if　I　may　trust　my　ears；　an　army　of　watchmen　would　never　make

head　against　such　a　multitude　of　rioters。　There　were　at　least　a

thousand　voices　went　up　to　make　that　one　shout。〃

　　　〃May　not　a　man　have　several　voices；　Robin；　as　well　as　two

complexions？〃　said　his　friend。

　　　〃Perhaps　a　man　may；　but　Heaven　forbid　that　a　woman　should！〃

responded　the　shrewd　youth；　thinking　of　the　seductive　tones　of　the

major's　housekeeper。

　　　The　sounds　of　a　trumpet　in　some　neighboring　street　now　became　so

evident　and　continual；　that　Robin's　curiosity　was　strongly　excited。　In

addition　to　the　shouts；　he　heard　frequent　bursts　from　many　instruments

of　discord；　and　a　wild　and　confused　laughter　filled　up　the

intervals。　Robin　rose　from　the　steps；　and　looked　wistfully　towards　a

point　whither　several　people　seemed　to　be　hastening。

　　　〃Surely　some　prodigious　merry…making　is　going　on；〃　exclaimed　he。　〃I

have　laughed　very　little　since　I　left　home；　sir；　and　should　be　sorry

to　lose　an　opportunity。　Shall　we　step　round　the　corner　by　that　darkish

house；　and　take　our　share　of　the　fun？〃

　　　〃Sit　down　again；　sit　down；　good　Robin；〃　replied　the　gentleman；

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　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

。