"Am I here, or there?" cried Robin, starting; for all at once, when his thoughts had become visible and audible in a dream, the long, wide, solitary street shone out before him.
He aroused himself, and endeavored to fix his attention steadily upon the large edifice which he had surveyed before.But still his mind kept vibrating between fancy and reality; by turns, the pillars of the balcony lengthened into the tall, bare stems of pines, dwindled down to human figures, settled again into their true shape and size, and then commenced a new succession of changes.For a single moment, when he deemed himself awake, he could have sworn that a visage--one which he seemed to remember, yet could not absolutely name as his kinsman's--was looking towards him from the Gothic window.A deeper 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, MajorMolineux?"
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 ithigh time to begin in 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.
"Oh, 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 mean time, 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 had 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 to-night," 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 twocomplexions?"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 people seemed to be hastening.
