"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 several people seemed to be hastening.
"Surely some prodigious merry-making is going on," exclaimed he. "I
have laughed very little since I left home, sir, and should be sorry
to lose an opportunity. Shall we step round the corner by that darkish
house, and take our share of the fun?"
"Sit down again, sit down, good Robin," replied the gentleman,
laying his hand on the skirt of the gray coat. "You forget that we
must wait here for your kinsman; and there is reason to believe that
he will pass by, in the course of a very few moments."
The near approach of the uproar had now disturbed the neighborhood;
windows flew open on all sides; and many heads, in the attire of the
pillow, and confused by sleep suddenly broken, were protruded to the
gaze of whoever had leisure to observe them.
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