The fragrance of the good cheer steamed forth
into the outer air, and the youth could not fail to recollect that the
last remnant of his travelling stock of provision had yielded to his
morning appetite, and that noon had found, and left him, dinnerless.
"O, that a parchment three-penny might give me a right to sit
down at yonder table!" said Robin, with a sigh. "But the major will
make me welcome to the best of his victuals; so I will even step
boldly 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 low
apartment, with oaken walls, grown dark in the continual smoke, and
a floor, which was thickly sanded, but of no immaculate purity. A
number of persons- the larger part of whom appeared to be mariners, or
in some way connected with the sea- occupied the wooden benches, or
leather-bottomed chairs, conversing on various matters, and
occasionally lending their attention to some topic of general
interest. Three or four little groups were draining as many bowls of
punch, which the West India trade had long since made a familiar drink
in the colony.
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