The rattling of wheels over the stones sometimes found its way to
his ear, and confused traces of a human form appeared at intervals,
and then melted into the vivid light. A moment more, and the leader
thundered a command to halt: the trumpets vomited a horrid breath, and
then held their peace; the shouts and laughter of the people died
away, and there remained only a universal hum, allied to silence.
Right before Robin's eyes was an uncovered cart. There the torches
blazed the brightest, there the moon shone out like day, and there, in
tar-and-feathery dignity, sat his kinsman Major Molineux!
He was an elderly man, of large and majestic person, and strong,
square features, betokening a steady soul; but steady as it was, his
enemies had found means to shake it. His face was pale as death, and
far more ghastly; the broad forehead was contracted in his agony, so
that his eyebrows formed one grizzled line; his eyes were red and
wild, and the foam hung white upon his quivering lip. His whole
frame was agitated by a quick and continual tremor, which his pride
strove to quell, even in those circumstances of overwhelming
humiliation. But perhaps the bitterest pang of all was when his eyes
met those of Robin; for he evidently knew him on the instant, as the
youth stood witnessing the foul disgrace of a head grown gray in
honor.
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