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twice-told tales- my kinsman, major molineux-第4部分
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sleep wrestled with and nearly overcame him; but fled at the sound
of footsteps along the opposite pavement。 Robin rubbed his eyes;
discerned a man passing at the foot of the balcony; and addressed
him in a loud; peevish; and lamentable cry。
〃Hallo; friend! must I wait here all night for my kinsman; Major
Molineux?〃
The sleeping echoes awoke; and answered the voice; and the
passenger; barely able to discern a figure sitting in the oblique
shade of the steeple; traversed the street to obtain a nearer view。 He
was himself a gentleman in his prime; of open; intelligent;
cheerful; and altogether prepossessing countenance。 Perceiving a
country youth; apparently homeless and without friends; he accosted
him in a tone of real kindness; which had become strange to Robin's
ears。
〃Well; my good lad; why are you sitting here?〃 inquired he。 〃Can
I be of service to you in any way?〃
〃I am afraid not; sir;〃 replied Robin; despondingly; 〃yet I shall
take it kindly; if you'll answer me a single question。 I've been
searching; half the night; for one Major Molineux; now; sir; is
there really such a person in these parts; or am I dreaming?〃
〃Major Molineux! The name is not altogether strange to me;〃 said
the gentleman; smiling。 〃Have you any objection to telling me the
nature of your business with him?〃
Then Robin briefly related that his father was a clergyman; settled
on a small salary; at a long distance back in the country; and that he
and Major Molineux were brothers' children。 The major; having
inherited riches; and acquired civil and military rank; had visited
his cousin; in great pomp; a year or two before; had manifested much
interest in Robin and an elder brother; and; being childless
himself; had thrown out hints respecting the future establishment of
one of them in life。 The elder brother was destined to succeed to
the farm which his father cultivated in the interval of sacred duties;
it was therefore determined that Robin should profit by his
kinsman's generous intentions; especially as he seemed to be rather
the favorite; and was thought to possess other necessary endowments。
〃For I have the name of being a shrewd youth;〃 observed Robin; in
this part of his story。
〃I doubt not you deserve it;〃 replied his new friend;
good…naturedly; 〃but pray proceed。〃
〃Well; sir; being nearly eighteen years old; and well…grown; as you
see;〃 continued Robin; drawing himself up to his full height; 〃I
thought it high time to begin the world。 So my mother and sister put
me in handsome trim; and my father gave me half the remnant of his
last year's salary; and five days ago I started for this place; to pay
the major a visit。 But; would you believe it; sir! I crossed the ferry
a little after dark; and have yet found nobody that would show me
the way to his dwelling… only; an hour or two since; I was told to
wait here; and Major Molineux would pass by。〃
〃Can you describe the man who told you this?〃 inquired the
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 a
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