my kinsman-第6章

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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