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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 youths； 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 some one who struck down a cane on the flag…stones 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 doors 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； 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 him a message from his friends in the country； and
then go back to my lodgings at the inn。〃
〃Nay； the Major has been abed this hour or more；〃 said the lady
of the scarlet petticoat； 〃and it would be to little purpose to
disturb him to…night； seeing his evening draught was of the
strongest。 But he is a kind…hearted man； and it would be as much
as my life's worth to let a kinsman of his turn away from the
door。 You are the good old gentleman's very picture； and I could
swear that was his rainy…weather hat。 Also he has garments very
much resembling those leather small…clothes。 But come in； I pray；
for I bid you hearty welcome in his name。〃
So saying； the fair and hospitable dame took our hero by the
hand； and the touch was light； and the force was gentleness； and
though Robin read in her eyes what he did not hear in her words；
yet the slender…waisted woman in the scarlet petticoat proved
stronger than the athletic country youth。 She had drawn his
half…willing footsteps nearly to the threshold； when the opening
of a door in the neighborhood startled the Major's housekeeper；
and； leaving the Major's kinsman； she vanished speedily into her
own domicile。 A heavy yawn preceded the appearance of a man； who；
like the Moonshine of Pyramus and Thisbe； carried a lantern；
needlessly aiding his sister luminary in the heavens。 As he
walked sleepily up the street； he turned his broad； dull face on
Robin； and displayed a long staff； spiked at the end。
〃Home； vagabond； home！〃 said the watchman； in accents that seemed
to fall asleep as soon as they were uttered。 〃Home； or we'll set
you in the stocks by peep of day！〃
〃This is the second hint of the kind；〃 thought Robin。 〃I wish
they would end my difficulties； by setting me there to…night。〃
Nevertheless； the youth felt an instinctive antipathy towards the
guardian of midnight order； which at first prevented him from
asking his usual question。 But just when the man was about to
vanish behind the corner； Robin resolved not to lose the
opportunity； and shouted lustily after him； 〃I say； friend！ will
you guide me to the house of my kinsman； Major Molineux？〃
The watchman made no reply； but turned the corner and was gone；
yet Robin seemed to hear the sound of drowsy laughter stealing
along the solitary street。 At that moment； also； a pleasant
titter saluted him from the open window above his head； he looked
up； and caught the sparkle of a saucy eye； a round arm beckoned
to him； and next he heard light footsteps descending the
staircase within。 But Robin； being of the household of a New
England clergyman； was a good youth； as well as a shrewd one； so
he resisted temptation； and fled away。
He now roamed desperately； and at random； through the town；
almo