twice-told tales- my kinsman, major molineux-第6章

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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。

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　　　〃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

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