, and well grown, as you
see," continued Robin, drawing himself up to his full height, "I
thought it high 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 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 s