友情提示:如果本网页打开太慢或显示不完整,请尝试鼠标右键“刷新”本网页!
合租小说网 返回本书目录 加入书签 我的书架 我的书签 TXT全本下载 『收藏到我的浏览器』

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

快捷操作: 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! 如果本书没有阅读完,想下次继续接着阅读,可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能!


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
返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0
快捷操作: 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!
温馨提示: 温看小说的同时发表评论,说出自己的看法和其它小伙伴们分享也不错哦!发表书评还可以获得积分和经验奖励,认真写原创书评 被采纳为精评可以获得大量金币、积分和经验奖励哦!