"Let go my garment, fellow! I tell you, I know not the man youspeak of. What! I have authority, I have- hem, hem- authority; andif this be the respect you show for your betters, your feet shall bebrought acquainted with the stocks by daylight, tomorrow morning!"Robin released the old man's skirt, and hastened away, pursued byan ill-mannered roar of laughter from the barber's shop. He was atfirst considerably surprised by the result of his question, but, beinga shrewd youth, soon thought himself able to account for the mystery.
This is some country representative," was his conclusion, "whohas never seen the inside of my kinsman's door, and lacks the breedingto answer a stranger civilly. The man is old, or verily- I might betempted to turn back and smite him on the nose. Ah, Robin, Robin! eventhe barber's boys laugh at you choosing such a guide! You will bewiser in time, friend Robin."He now became entangled in a succession of crooked and narrowstreets, which crossed each other, and meandered at no greatdistance from the water-side. The smell of tar was obvious to hisnostrils, the masts of vessels pierced the moonlight above the tops ofthe buildings, and the numerous signs, which Robin paused to read,informed him that he was near the centre of business. But thestreets were empty, the shops were closed, and lights were visibleonly in the second stories of a few dwelling-houses. At length, on thecorner of a narrow lane, through which he was passing, he beheld thebroad countenance of a British hero swinging before the door of aninn, whence proceeded the voices of many guests. The casement of oneof the lower windows was thrown back, and a very thin curtainpermitted Robin to distinguish a party at supper, round awell-furnished table. The fragrance of the good cheer steamed forthinto the outer air, and the youth could not fail to recollect that thelast remnant of his travelling stock of provision had yielded to hismorning appetite, and that noon had found, and left him, dinnerless.
"O, that a parchment three-penny might give me a right to sitdown at yonder table!" said Robin, with a sigh. "But the major willmake me welcome to the best of his victuals; so I will even stepboldly in, and inquire my way to his dwelling."He entered the tavern, and was guided by the murmur of voices,and the fumes of tobacco, to the public room. It was a long and lowapartment, with oaken walls, grown dark in the continual smoke, anda floor, which was thickly sanded, but of no immaculate purity. Anumber of persons- the larger part of whom appeared to be mariners, orin some way connected with the sea- occupied the wooden benches, orleather-bottomed chairs, conversing on various matters, andoccasionally lending their attention to some topic of generalinterest. Three or four little groups were draining as many bowls ofpunch, which the West India trade had long since made a familiar drinkin the colony. Others, who had the appearance of men who lived byregular and laborious handicraft, preferred the insulated bliss ofan unshared potation, and became more taciturn under its influence.
Nearly all, in short, evinced a predilection for the Good Creaturein some of its various shapes, for this is a vice to which, asFast-day sermons of a hundred years ago will testify, we have a longhereditary claim. The only guests to whom Robin's sympathiesinclined him were two or three sheepish countrymen, who were using theinn somewhat after the fashion of a Turkish caravansary; they hadgotten themselves into the darkest corner of the room, and, heedlessof the Nicotian atmosphere, were supping on the bread of their ownovens, and the bacon cured in their own chimney-smoke. But thoughRobin felt a sort of brotherhood with these strangers, his eyes wereattracted from them to a person who stood near the door, holdingwhispered conversation with a group of ill-dressed associates. Hisfeatures were separately striking almost to grotesqueness, and thewhole face left a deep impression on the memory. The forehead bulgedout into a double prominence, with a vale between; the nose cameboldly forth in an irregular curve, and its bridge was of more thana finger's breadth; the eyebrows were deep and shaggy, and the eyesglowed beneath them like fire in a cave.
While Robin deliberated of whom to inquire respecting his kinsman'sdwelling, he was accosted by the innkeeper, a little man in astained white apron, who had come to pay his professional welcome tothe stranger. Being in the second generation from a French Protestant,he seemed to have inherited the courtesy of his parent nation; butno variety of circumstances was ever known to change his voice fromthe one shrill note in which he now addressed Robin.
"From the country, I presume, sir?" said he, with a profound bow.
"Beg leave to congratulate you on your arrival, and trust you intend along stay with us. Fine town here, sir, beautiful buildings, andmuch that may interest a stranger. May I hope for the honor of yourcommands in respect to supper?""The man sees a family likeness! the rogue has guessed that I amrelated to the major!" thought Robin, who had hitherto experiencedlittle superfluous civility.
All eyes were now turned on the country lad, standing at thedoor, in his worn three-cornered hat, gray coat, leather breeches, andblue yarn stockings, leaning on an oaken cudgel, and bearing awallet on his back.
