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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 youth； 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 someone； who struck down a cane on the
flagstones 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 door； 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； the
airy counterpart of a stream of melted silver； 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 a…bed this hour or more；〃 said the lady of
the scarlet petticoat； 〃and it would be to little purpose to disturb
him tonight； 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 tonight。〃
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；
almost ready to believe that a spell was on him； like that by which
a wizard of his country had once kept three pursuers wandering； a
whole winter night； within twenty paces of the cottage which t