The House of the Seven Gables | Page 9

and onions in abundance. The mere
smell of such festivity, making its way to everybody's nostrils, was at
once an invitation and an appetite.

Maule's Lane, or Pyncheon Street, as it were now more decorous to call
it, was thronged, at the appointed hour, as with a congregation on its
way to church. All, as they approached, looked upward at the imposing
edifice, which was henceforth to assume its rank among the habitations
of mankind. There it rose, a little withdrawn from the line of the street,
but in pride, not modesty. Its whole visible exterior was ornamented
with quaint figures, conceived in the grotesqueness of a Gothic fancy,
and drawn or stamped in the glittering plaster, composed of lime,
pebbles, and bits of glass, with which the woodwork of the walls was
overspread. On every side the seven gables pointed sharply towards the
sky, and presented the aspect of a whole sisterhood of edifices,
breathing through the spiracles of one great chimney. The many lattices,
with their small, diamond-shaped panes, admitted the sunlight into hall
and chamber, while, nevertheless, the second story, projecting far over
the base, and itself retiring beneath the third, threw a shadowy and
thoughtful gloom into the lower rooms. Carved globes of wood were
affixed under the jutting stories. Little spiral rods of iron beautified
each of the seven peaks. On the triangular portion of the gable, that
fronted next the street, was a dial, put up that very morning, and on
which the sun was still marking the passage of the first bright hour in a
history that was not destined to be all so bright. All around were
scattered shavings, chips, shingles, and broken halves of bricks; these,
together with the lately turned earth, on which the grass had not begun
to grow, contributed to the impression of strangeness and novelty
proper to a house that had yet its place to make among men's daily
interests.
The principal entrance, which had almost the breadth of a church-door,
was in the angle between the two front gables, and was covered by an
open porch, with benches beneath its shelter. Under this arched
doorway, scraping their feet on the unworn threshold, now trod the
clergymen, the elders, the magistrates, the deacons, and whatever of
aristocracy there was in town or county. Thither, too, thronged the
plebeian classes as freely as their betters, and in larger number. Just
within the entrance, however, stood two serving-men, pointing some of
the guests to the neighborhood of the kitchen and ushering others into
the statelier rooms,--hospitable alike to all, but still with a scrutinizing

regard to the high or low degree of each. Velvet garments sombre but
rich, stiffly plaited ruffs and bands, embroidered gloves, venerable
beards, the mien and countenance of authority, made it easy to
distinguish the gentleman of worship, at that period, from the
tradesman, with his plodding air, or the laborer, in his leathern jerkin,
stealing awe-stricken into the house which he had perhaps helped to
build.
One inauspicious circumstance there was, which awakened a hardly
concealed displeasure in the breasts of a few of the more punctilious
visitors. The founder of this stately mansion--a gentleman noted for the
square and ponderous courtesy of his demeanor, ought surely to have
stood in his own hall, and to have offered the first welcome to so many
eminent personages as here presented themselves in honor of his
solemn festival. He was as yet invisible; the most favored of the guests
had not beheld him. This sluggishness on Colonel Pyncheon's part
became still more unaccountable, when the second dignitary of the
province made his appearance, and found no more ceremonious a
reception. The lieutenant-governor, although his visit was one of the
anticipated glories of the day, had alighted from his horse, and assisted
his lady from her side-saddle, and crossed the Colonel's threshold,
without other greeting than that of the principal domestic.
This person--a gray-headed man, of quiet and most respectful
deportment --found it necessary to explain that his master still remained
in his study, or private apartment; on entering which, an hour before, he
had expressed a wish on no account to be disturbed.
"Do not you see, fellow," said the high-sheriff of the county, taking the
servant aside, "that this is no less a man than the lieutenant-governor?
Summon Colonel Pyncheon at once! I know that he received letters
from England this morning; and, in the perusal and consideration of
them, an hour may have passed away without his noticing it. But he
will be ill-pleased, I judge if you suffer him to neglect the courtesy due
to one of our chief rulers, and who may be said to represent King
William, in the absence of the governor himself. Call your master
instantly."

"Nay, please your worship," answered the