按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
RICHARD DOUBLEDICK
In the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； a relative of
mine came limping down； on foot； to this town of Chatham。 I call it this
town； because if anybody present knows to a nicety where Rochester ends
and Chatham begins； it is more than I do。 He was a poor traveller； with
not a farthing in his pocket。 He sat by the fire in this very room； and he
slept one night in a bed that will be occupied tonight by some one here。
My relative came down to Chatham to enlist in a cavalry regiment； if a
cavalry regiment would have him； if not； to take King George's shilling
from any corporal or sergeant who would put a bunch of ribbons in his hat。
His object was to get shot； but he thought he might as well ride to death as
be at the trouble of walking。
My relative's Christian name was Richard； but he was better known as
Dick。 He dropped his own surname on the road down； and took up that
of Doubledick。 He was passed as Richard Doubledick； age； twenty… two；
height； five foot ten； native place； Exmouth； which he had never been near
in his life。 There was no cavalry in Chatham when he limped over the
bridge here with half a shoe to his dusty feet； so he enlisted into a regiment
of the line； and was glad to get drunk and forget all about it。
You are to know that this relative of mine had gone wrong； and run
wild。 His heart was in the right place； but it was sealed up。 He had
been betrothed to a good and beautiful girl； whom he had loved better than
sheor perhaps even hebelieved； but in an evil hour he had given her
cause to say to him solemnly； 〃Richard； I will never marry another man。
I will live single for your sake； but Mary Marshall's lips〃her name was
Mary Marshall〃never address another word to you on earth。 Go；
Richard！ Heaven forgive you！〃 This finished him。 This brought him
down to Chatham。 This made him Private Richard Doubledick； with a
determination to be shot。
There was not a more dissipated and reckless soldier in Chatham
11
… Page 12…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
barracks； in the year one thousand seven hundred and ninety…nine； than
Private Richard Doubledick。 He associated with the dregs of every
regiment； he was as seldom sober as he could be； and was constantly
under punishment。 It became clear to the whole barracks that Private
Richard Doubledick would very soon be flogged。
Now the Captain of Richard Doubledick's company was a young
gentleman not above five years his senior； whose eyes had an expression
in them which affected Private Richard Doubledick in a very remarkable
way。 They were bright； handsome； dark eyes；what are called laughing
eyes generally； and； when serious； rather steady than severe；but they
were the only eyes now left in his narrowed world that Private Richard
Doubledick could not stand。 Unabashed by evil report and punishment；
defiant of everything else and everybody else； he had but to know that
those eyes looked at him for a moment； and he felt ashamed。 He could
not so much as salute Captain Taunton in the street like any other officer。
He was reproached and confused；troubled by the mere possibility of the
captain's looking at him。 In his worst moments； he would rather turn
back； and go any distance out of his way； than encounter those two
handsome； dark； bright eyes。
One day； when Private Richard Doubledick came out of the Black hole；
where he had been passing the last eight…and…forty hours； and in which
retreat he spent a good deal of his time； he was ordered to betake himself
to Captain Taunton's quarters。 In the stale and squalid state of a man just
out of the Black hole； he had less fancy than ever for being seen by the
captain； but he was not so mad yet as to disobey orders； and consequently
went up to the terrace overlooking the parade…ground； where the officers'
quarters were； twisting and breaking in his hands； as he went along； a bit
of the straw that had formed the decorative furniture of the Black hole。
〃Come in！〃 cried the Captain； when he had knocked with his knuckles
at the door。 Private Richard Doubledick pulled off his cap； took a stride
forward； and felt very conscious that he stood in the light of the dark；
bright eyes。
There was a silent pause。 Private Richard Doubledick had put the
straw in his mouth； and was gradually doubling it up into his windpipe and
12
… Page 13…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
choking himself。
〃Doubledick；〃 said the Captain； 〃do you know where you are going
to？〃
〃To the Devil； sir？〃 faltered Doubledick。
〃Yes；〃 returned the Captain。 〃And very fast。〃
Private Richard Doubledick turned the straw of the Black hole in his
month； and made a miserable salute of acquiescence。
〃Doubledick；〃 said the Captain； 〃since I entered his Majesty's service；
a boy of seventeen； I have been pained to see many men of promise going
that road； but I have never been so pained to see a man make the shameful
journey as I have been； ever since you joined the regiment； to see you。〃
Private Richard Doubledick began to find a film stealing over the floor
at which he looked； also to find the legs of the Captain's breakfast…table
turning crooked； as if he saw them through water。
〃I am only a common soldier； sir；〃 said he。 〃It signifies very little
what such a poor brute comes to。〃
〃You are a man；〃 returned the Captain； with grave indignation； 〃of
education and superior advantages； and if you say that； meaning what you
say； you have sunk lower than I had believed。 How low that must be； I
leave you to consider； knowing what I know of your disgrace； and seeing
what I see。〃
〃I hope to get shot soon； sir；〃 said Private Richard Doubledick； 〃and
then the regiment and the world together will be rid of me。〃
The legs of the table were becoming very crooked。 Doubledick；
looking up to steady his vision； met the eyes that had so strong an
influence over him。 He put his hand before his own eyes； and the breast
of his disgrace…jacket swelled as if it would fly asunder。
〃I would rather；〃 said the young Captain； 〃see this in you； Doubledick；
than I would see five thousand guineas counted out upon this table for a
gift to my good mother。 Have you a mother？〃
〃I am thankful to say she is dead； sir。〃
〃If your praises；〃 returned the Captain； 〃were sounded from mouth to
mouth through the whole regiment； through the whole army； through the
whole country； you would wish she had lived to say； with pride and joy；
13
… Page 14…
THE SEVEN POOR TRAVELLERS
'He is my son！'〃
〃Spare me； sir；〃 said Doubledick。 〃She would never have heard any
good of me。 She would never have had any pride and joy in owning
herself my mother。 Love and compassion she might have had； and would
have always had； I know but notSpare me； sir！ I am a broken wretch；
quite at your m