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Feathertop: A Moralized Legend
But,eveninthatbriefmoment,hadthefairPollyglancedasideatherfatherinsteadofdevotingherselfwhollytothebrilliantguest,shemighthavetakenwarningofsomemischiefnighathand.Theoldmanwasnervous,fidgety,andverypale.Purposingasmileofcourtesy,hehaddeformedhisfacewithasortofgalvanicgrin,which,whenFeathertop’sbackwasturned,heexchangedforascowl,atthesametimeshakinghisfistandstampinghisgoutyfoot—anincivilitywhichbroughtitsretributionalongwithit.ThetruthappearstohavebeenthatMotherRigby’swordofintroduction,whateveritmightbe,hadoperatedfarmoreontherichmerchant’sfearsthanonhisgoodwill.Moreover,beingamanofwonderfullyacuteobservation,hehadnoticedthatthesepaintedfiguresonthebowlofFeathertop’spipewereinmotion.Lookingmorecloselyhebecameconvincedthatthesefigureswereapartyoflittledemons,eachdulyprovidedwithhornsandatail,anddancinghandinhand,withgesturesofdiabolicalmerriment,roundthecircumferenceofthepipebowl.Asiftoconfirmhissuspicions,whileMasterGookinusheredhisguestalongaduskypassagefromhisprivateroomtotheparlor,thestaronFeathertop’sbreasthadscintillatedactualflames,andthrewaflickeringgleamuponthewall,theceiling,andthefloor.
Withsuchsinisterprognosticsmanifestingthemselvesonallhands,itisnottobemarvelledatthatthemerchantshouldhavefeltthathewascommittinghisdaughtertoaveryquestionableacquaintance.
