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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
Hurryingfromherchambertotheparlor,shehadeversincebeenviewingherselfinthelargelooking-glassandpractisingprettyairs-nowasmile,nowaceremoniousdignityofaspect,andnowasoftersmilethantheformer,kissingherhandlikewise,tossingherhead,andmanagingherfan;whilewithinthemirroranunsubstantiallittlemaidrepeatedeverygestureanddidallthefoolishthingsthatPollydid,butwithoutmakingherashamedofthem.Inshort,itwasthefaultofprettyPolly’sabilityratherthanherwillifshefailedtobeascompleteanartificeastheillustriousFeathertophimself;and,whenshethustamperedwithherownsimplicity,thewitch’sphantommightwellhopetowinher.
NosoonerdidPollyhearherfather’sgoutyfootstepsapproachingtheparlordoor,accompaniedwiththestiffclatterofFeathertop’shigh-heeledshoes,thansheseatedherselfboltuprightandinnocentlybeganwarblingasong.
"Polly!daughterPolly!"criedtheoldmerchant."Comehither,child."
MasterGookin’saspect,asheopenedthedoor,wasdoubtfulandtroubled.
"Thisgentleman,"continuedhe,presentingthestranger,"istheChevalierFeathertop,—nay,Ibeghispardon,myLordFeathertop,—whohathbroughtmeatokenofremembrancefromanancientfriendofmine.Payyourdutytohislordship,child,andhonorhimashisqualitydeserves."
Afterthesefewwordsofintroduction,theworshipfulmagistrateimmediatelyquittedtheroom.
