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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
Whatawhiffofsmokewasthat!Dimandfadeddidyoucallhim?Why,asheturnsaboutthestaronhisbreastisallablaze."
"Itis,indeed,"saidhiscompanion;"anditwillgoneartodazzleprettyPollyGookin,whomIseepeepingatitoutofthechamberwindow."
Thedoorbeingnowopened,Feathertopturnedtothecrowd,madeastatelybendofhisbodylikeagreatmanacknowledgingthereverenceofthemeanersort,andvanishedintothehouse.Therewasamysteriouskindofasmile,ifitmightnotbetterbecalledagrinorgrimace,uponhisvisage;but,ofallthethrongthatbeheldhim,notanindividualappearstohavepossessedinsightenoughtodetecttheillusivecharacterofthestrangerexceptalittlechildandacurdog.
Ourlegendherelosessomewhatofitscontinuity,and,passingoverthepreliminaryexplanationbetweenFeathertopandthemerchant,goesinquestoftheprettyPollyGookin.Shewasadamselofasoft,roundfigure,withlighthairandblueeyes,andafair,rosyface,whichseemedneitherveryshrewdnorverysimple.Thisyoungladyhadcaughtaglimpseoftheglisteningstrangerwhilestandingonthethreshold,andhadforthwithputonalacedcap,astringofbeads,herfinestkerchief,andherstiffestdamaskpetticoatinpreparationfortheinterview.
